Former British Airways Hostess, Joanne Wickenden. PHOTO CREDIT: MailOnline
British Airways has sacked the hostess who recorded a racist video in which she was seen ranting and insulting Nigerian passengers, MailOnline has reported.
Joanne Wickenden, 23-years-old, sparked outrage after she recorded the racist clip in her British Airways uniform before flying from London Heathrow to Abuja on Friday night.
After a two-hour meeting with bosses on Tuesday, MailOnline said she claims that the video which she uploaded via her Snapchat was ‘just a joke’, adding that she was set up by a British Airways colleague who recorded her and shared the clip.
In a statement on Tuesday, revealed by MailOnline, British Airways said, Wickenden no longer works with the airline as their staff are expected to be of utmost professionalism when representing the airline.
“She no longer works for British Airways. We expect the utmost professionalism from our staff when they are representing British Airways.”
MailOnline reported that 23-year-old Wickenden, who wants to be an actress, told her friends that she is not a racist.
“I am not a racist,” she said, claiming that the video was just “a joke.”
She told MailOnline that, I have been framed by another British Airline employee. They were encouraging me, egging me on to say things. They were recording me and sent it around to our friends, she said I don’t want to fly anymore.
A friend said that the other colleague wanted her to impersonate what goes on the flight.
A source told MailOnline that the video, which was captioned ‘I can’t cope with this flight’ – was circulated among ‘horrified’ British Airways cabin crew who are ‘very concerned’.
