In an interview for Sky News, Naomi Campbell that the incident
in which she was involved at London’s
Heathrow
Airport
this April, was triggered by a racist comment.
"I was called a racial name on that flight and that was
part of my reaction," Naomi Campbell said. "I was called a 'Golliwog
supermodel', I don't think that's really fair, do you?"
Also, the British supermodel said she is very sure that the person
who used the term was not a passenger. "Someone on the flight, not the
passenger," Campbell
said.
On April 3, Naomi Campbell, who was traveling to Los Angeles, threw a
tantrum at the captain of the Los Angeles-bound British Airways flight,
launching herself into a rage against the airport's staff when some of her
luggage went missing.
After excoriating airport police who were attempting to restore order - and
even spitting on one officer -, Naomi Campbell was escorted off the aircraft
and taken into custody. She was released on bail eight hours later.
On Thursday, the British supermodel Naomi Campbell, who was
charged with six different offenses, admitted to four of them– two counts of
assaulting a police officer; one of using threatening, abusive words or
behavior to cabin crew; and one of using insulting, abusive, threatening
behavior or disorderly conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The
prosecutors agreed to drop the other two.
The 38-year-old catwalker was sentenced to 200 hours of
community service and ordered to pay a $4,604 fine, although she was facing a
maximum six-month jail term.
In her interview with Sky News, Naomi Campbell apologized to the London’s police for the
incident and she admitted she take it “too far”. "As for British Airways,
I don't apologize," she added.
In response to Campbell’s
interview, British Airways has issued a statement, strongly rejecting “any
allegations of racism."
"We are proud of our diversity. We fly to 90 different countries around
the world and employ a multi-nationality work force," the airline said.
"We have strict policies concerning dignity at work and have long-standing
training programs on diversity and inclusion."
Last year, Naomi Campbell was arrested after hurling the
phone - reportedly a jewel-encrusted BlackBerry - which smacked her housekeeper
on the head, leaving her needing four stitches. She was sentenced to a week of
community service which she spent mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms in New York City.