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Home  >  British Airways • Law In Travel  >  Singer Who Tried To Scam Free Business Class Upgrade And Told British Airways Flight Attendant “I Want Your Chocolate Children” Is Found Guilty Of Racially-Aggravated Assault
British AirwaysLaw In Travel

Singer Who Tried To Scam Free Business Class Upgrade And Told British Airways Flight Attendant “I Want Your Chocolate Children” Is Found Guilty Of Racially-Aggravated Assault

Matthew Klint Posted onJanuary 13, 2023January 13, 2023 15 Comments

A singer has been found guilty of racially-aggravated assault against a flight attendant that occurred on a British Airways flight last summer.

English Singer Demands Free Upgrade To Business Class On British Airways, Then Tells Flight Attendant “I Want Your Chocolate Children”

39-year-old English singer, songwriter, and actor Lee Ryan boarded a British Airways flight from Glasgow (GLA) to London City (LCY) in July 2022 already intoxicated after purportedly drinking a bottle of port in the British Airways lounge before boarding his delayed flight. Onboard, Ryan tried to strike up a conversation with his seatmate but when his seatmate did not want to chat, he became indignant.

He then asked a flight attendant, named Leah Gordon, if she could upgrade him to business class since he was a British Airways Gold cardholder. She told the Court:

“He told me he had a problem, that he was being harassed by other passengers, that he was famous and asked did I know who he was.”

But his request was declined. He then took an interest in Gordon, calling her beautiful and putting his sunglasses on her face. He then said:

“You’re my chocolate darling, my chocolate cookie, and I’m going to have your chocolate children.”

She shrugged it off and went about doing her work, but Ryan approached her again and said, “Before I get off this plane I need a kiss from you.”

Gordon told Ryan to “stay away” and he responded by grabbing her wrists, prompting other passengers to intervene and pull Ryan away. She told the court:

“He was towering over me, like he was leaning in to give me a kiss.”

During this time, Ryan was “slurring his words and staggering around.” In London City, he resisted arrest by police (trying to bite one of the cops) before later telling them:

“I wish I could ring her up and apologize and offer her some Blue tickets for the next tour.”

In court, Ryan denied that his words were racist, claiming he was just being “playful” and that the word “chocolate” was affectionate. He also added that he said “chocolate chip” which means the cookie was “white.”

“My band member is black. I’m not racist, I’ve had black girlfriends, mixed-race girlfriends.”

He also has a wife…for now at least.

“It was banter, just drunk banter I suppose, there was no malice or intention to upset anyone. I didn’t mean to cause any distress to anyone or be racist, it was just a poor choice of words I suppose.”

I suppose so…

Ryan was found guilty of assault with the Court also finding the assault was racially-aggravated. He now awaits sentencing.

CONCLUSION

Lee Ryan was found guilty of racially-aggravated assault after a string events that began with a British Airways flight delay and a bottle of port wine and ended with trying to bite a police officer in London. Frankly, I’m surprised Ryan did not try to pin this all on British Airways for the flight delay as the proximate cause of his poor behavior. His words in court suggest he is not remorseful at all for what occurred onboard.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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15 Comments

  1. Joe Chivas Reply
    January 13, 2023 at 7:15 am

    I am reading this at Starbucks. The white people behind me received their coffees 2 minutes ago, and I am still waiting for my decaf almond milk latteccino with fresh ground nutmeg. Racism is everywhere.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      January 13, 2023 at 7:17 am

      It’s a shame.

    • Russell Reply
      January 13, 2023 at 10:44 am

      Get a life!!! Woke snowflake

      • Robert Reply
        January 14, 2023 at 2:28 am

        I think you’ll find that Joe’s comment was satire.

    • Alysda Reply
      January 13, 2023 at 1:52 pm

      HELL ya
      But Europe is much worse, racism wise,England is on the better side in Europe when they are sober, they show their true color when they are drunk. Which happens frequently.
      Btw, he was extremely popular back in early 2000’s. As well as his boyband Blue.

  2. Peter Ould Reply
    January 13, 2023 at 7:25 am

    Matthew,

    What this report doesn’t say is that London City is a small runway, so only takes Embraers etc on short haul flights. BA Cityflyer is the BA subsidiary here and there is precious little between Economy and Business except a catered meal. As the Embraer 90s are 2×2 there is the same seating in both classes and Economy has a full drinks service (unlike the main BA short haul service).

    Any BA Gold member worth their salt knows that an upgrade here is really nothing special at all.

    • Darkstar Reply
      January 13, 2023 at 11:22 am

      Your post is a classic example of not seeing the forest for the trees

      • Mr. Marcus Reply
        January 13, 2023 at 9:44 pm

        Maybe so, but I loved it because of the technical details and the fact that it conveys some useful aviation travel information.

  3. PM1 Reply
    January 13, 2023 at 8:05 am

    In other news, Air India ‘urination’ case: Complainant peed on her own seat, accused Shankar Mishra tells court. “This lady (complainant) is suffering from a medical condition… She urinated on herself and is now blaming Mishra,” Mishra’s lawyer senior advocate Ramesh Gupta told the court.

  4. Lukas Reply
    January 13, 2023 at 9:04 am

    “… his seatmate did NOT want to chat…”

  5. Maryland Reply
    January 13, 2023 at 10:27 am

    At some point lounges that over-serve / self serve likely will be held accountable for similar arrests. Over consumption by idiots is becoming a notable problem. Maybe it’s time to clamp down on airport liquor. While airport drinking is a money maker, it’s also a liability.

  6. Christian Reply
    January 14, 2023 at 1:48 am

    Love the part about how he’s married… for now. After this conviction the prenup can go in the shredder and mr. dude will get taken to the cleaners as he deserves.

  7. W Ho Reply
    January 15, 2023 at 9:42 am

    Guess Matty’s Not a fan of Blue

  8. Ralph4878 Reply
    January 16, 2023 at 9:15 pm

    Ahhh, the classic, “But I know a black person!” defense…so predictable, just like the, “But you don’t know me!” pushback, as if it changes what you did to this black woman – at her place of work – as a white man (who…do you know who he is?). Bye, sir.

    • DCAWABN Reply
      January 19, 2023 at 12:37 pm

      This also made me laugh. And his idiot comment about the chocolate chip meaning the cookie was white? Was does that even mean? You can absolutely put chocolate chips in chocolate cookies. Also, that’s even more racist than the stupid shit he said earlier. String this twat up.

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