Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Marlon Wayans Accuses United Airlines Of 'Racism' After Being Kicked Off Flight Over Baggage

Split screenshots of Marlon Wayans from Instagram
@marlonwayans/Instagram

The 'White Chicks' star took United to task on Instagram after he was booted from a flight to Kansas City due an altercation with an employee over his bags and ended up missing his stand-up shows.

Marlon Wayans is never flying with United Airlines again after an encounter with a ticket agent at Denver International Airport that escalated into an intense standoff.

The actor/comedian known for Don't Be a Menace and Scary Movie claimed the agent told him he had one too many bags to board the flight. It eventually led to him receiving a citation from the Denver Police Department for "disturbing the peace."


Wayans claimed Friday night's disagreement was racially motivated after he was denied boarding due to the excess bags.

He posted an Instagram video informing followers he was going to miss his stand-up show in Kansas City, Missouri.

"Maaaaaan the bullsh*t I’m experiencing at @united is unprecedented BULLSH*T," he wrote in the post's caption.

"People taking advantage of their 'power,'" he said, referring to the employee.

"Bro claimed i had too many bags so i complied and consolidated them he was like 'oh now you have to check that bag.'"
"Bye. I’m in seat 2 A come holla. Most agents are always love but every now and then you come across BAD PEOPLE."
"This was one of them. @united this type of employee should never work at your company."

"I’m writing a lettter DEAR MR. @scottkirby …" he wrote, referring to United Airlines CEO John Scott Kirby.

Here is the video.

USA Today obtained a statement from United about the incident.

The statement read:

"A customer who had been told he would have to gate-check his bag instead pushed past a United employee at the jet bridge and attempted to board the aircraft."

Wayans denied the altercation turned physical, informing social media users in another post:

"Yes, a ticket… that’s all they could give me. Dude tried to lie and say i assaulted him."
"The video clearly shows i never touched him. He was desperate to try to have some authority."
"I’ve flown over 15,000,000 miles in my lifetime and I rarely have had problems."

He continued explaining the specifics involved in the incident and claimed he was totally compliant with the ticket agent.

"Anyone knows who knows me knows I’m a mild mannered dude."
"This agent was clearly picking on me. He asked me to consolidate my bags and i complied."
"Then said now i have to check the bag because now since i consolidated it into one bag it was too big."
"At that point i said 'see now you’re just f'kin’ with me'. So i grabbed my ticket off the counter got on the plane."
"This was harassment and I will make enough noise to be sure all my friends and family and peoples stop flying @united this will be a corporate matter."

He noted how African Americans are subject to injustices every day over inconsequential matters such as the one he just experienced.

"Black people all kinds of racism and classism. I won’t allow this. Over a bag?"
"Y’all owe me money for my shows i missed, y’all owe me for my troubles, y’all owe my fans a damn apology."
"This was the highest level of disrespect. And should’ve been avoided."
"Next call is to my lawyers. And yes i am gonna DM THE BOSS!!!"


Fans and entertainment industry colleagues weighed in with their thoughts.

@marlonwayans/Instagram

@marlonwayans/Instagram

@marlonwayans/Instagram

@marlonwayans/Instagram

@marlonwayans/Instagram

@marlonwayans/Instagram

@marlonwayans/Instagram


Wayans doubled down on the fact that the "customer is always right" in a video in response to United contacting him and defending the ticket agent who claimed he received a text informing him there was no more room for the extra baggage.

The airline's corporate line confirmed this, even though Wayans said there were other passengers in line ahead of him and behind him with their carry-ons and were permitted to board.

Wayans is expected to return to Denver for a court date on July 11 to answer the charges relating to the citation.

More from Entertainment/tv-and-movies

Screenshots of Pete Hegseth attempting a grapevine workout with Navy members
@DOWRapidResponse/X

Pete Hegseth Is Getting Roasted Over His Hilariously Awkward Attempt To Do A Grapevine Workout With Navy Sailors

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was dragged hard on social media after video footage of his attempt at doing a grapevine workout with U.S. Navy soldiers in Singapore went viral online.

Hegseth was in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, a top regional defense forum. While there, he insisted the American military is not "turning our backs" on Asia while fulfilling "global obligations" such as the Iran war.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jon Ossoff; Donald Trump
@Acyn/X; Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Jon Ossoff Perfectly Explains Why Trump Wants To Build His Ballroom And Put His Face On Money—And Yep, That Tracks

Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff called out President Donald Trump at a rally in Atlanta on Sunday, saying Trump's plans to build a ballroom at the White House and his push to put his face on $250 bills say a lot about why he is "a failed president."

Last year, Trump ordered the demolition of the entire East Wing to make way for a 90,000 square-foot ballroom that will dwarf the size of the White House itself, sparking alarm from historical preservationists and the public alike.

Keep ReadingShow less
After Lisa Kudrow (left) recounted being mistaken for Dionne Warwick (right), the singer weighed in with a priceless response.
XNY/Star Max/GC Images; Amy Sussman/WireImage via Getty Images

Lisa Kudrow Reveals She Was Once Mistaken For Dionne Warwick—And Warwick's Reaction Is Hilariously Priceless

Celebrity mix-ups are practically their own meme at this point, but Lisa Kudrow being mistaken for Dionne Warwick probably wasn't on anyone's 2026 bingo card. It all unfolded during a recent Hollywood Reporter Comedy Actress Roundtable featuring Ashley Padilla, Hannah Einbinder, Keke Palmer, Quinta Brunson, Rachel Sennott, and Kudrow herself.

The actresses were asked about the strangest fan interactions they'd ever experienced, and Kudrow's answer quickly stole the conversation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Lee Curtis
Brian To/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Jamie Lee Curtis Pens Poignant Tribute To Her Sister And 'First Friend' After Her Death At 69

It's said that our first friends, and among our most treasured, are often our siblings or cousins. This was certainly true for Jamie Lee Curtis and her big sister, Kelly.

Kelly Lee Curtis, best known for Magic Sticks and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, passed away last weekend, surrounded by the things and people that she loved.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tina Fey addressed the viral Timothée Chalamet "manspreading" discourse during a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast.
@newheightshow/Instagram; Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Tina Fey Just Hilariously Cleared The Air After Timothée Chalamet 'Manspreading' Next To Her At Knicks Game Went Viral

What started as a viral photo from a Knicks game quickly became one of the internet's favorite celebrity storylines. Now, Tina Fey is clearing the air about the alleged "manspreading beef" with Timothée Chalamet while sharing what the Oscar nominee and Kylie Jenner were actually like off-camera.

For those who don't recall, Chalamet found himself at the center of countless memes after social media users accused him of "manspreading" next to Fey during a Knicks game in April. The photo that launched a thousand jokes showed Fey seated beside Chalamet, with the actor positioned between the comedian and Jenner while sporting a Knicks cap and a notably wide stance.

Keep ReadingShow less