Singer Bebe Rexha said she was threatened and “psychologically abused” by an airport employee because she is Albanian.
The 34-year-old posted a tearful video on Instagram with the caption: “I was threatened because I thought the security guard was Albanian.”
“I spoke to him in Albanian and asked where I could get my ticket and now he is banning me from flying.”
It is not known whether the US-born star, whose family is of Albanian descent, was allowed to board the flight from Munich Airport.
In a post to her 12 million followers on Saturday, she said she considered the incident a “hate crime” because of her ethnicity.
Rexha claimed the male employee refused to give his name and “continued to psychologically abuse me” without the female employees intervening.
The star, who has worked with artists such as Rita Ora and Louis Tomlinson and had a number one hit in the UK with David Guetta with “I’m Good (Blue),” said she believes the man works for a company that provides services to Lufthansa.
The German airline said it was trying to “understand the situation” and would not tolerate “discriminatory behavior of any kind.”
“We have contacted Bebe Rexha and are in direct contact with her to understand the situation,” a spokesperson said.
Rexha posted a tearful selfie in her Instagram story. Image: Instagram/beberexha
“As an international airline, we connect people and countries around the globe. Our guests and employees come from all over the world,” the spokesman added.
“Diversity and equal opportunities are core values of our company and our corporate culture.
“We do not tolerate any discriminatory behavior.”
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Rexha later confirmed that she had been contacted by Lufthansa and asked them to fully investigate the incident.
In addition to her own hits – including four top 10 singles in the UK – the singer has also written for stars such as Selena Gomez and Eminem.
