TV presenter Jamelia has said she was singled out by a fellow passenger to show a first class train ticket because she is “young and black”.
The former Loose Women panellist and singer, 36, said she was in the first class carriage on a train with her 11-year-old daughter when she clashed with another traveller.
In a lengthy series of posts on Twitter, Jamelia said the unidentified female passenger was left as “red as a beetroot” when challenged.
Jamelia said her day had been ruined because somebody killed her “vibe”.
She wrote: “So, I got on the train with my 11 year old daughter … didn’t even sit my bum on the seat good & a lady approaches me & asks me if I have a 1st class ticket.
“I look around. My daughter & I r the only black people in the packed carriage. I ask her ‘why did you ask me that?’.
You know when you have a lovely day & someone just kills your vibe? 😒
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
“She replies ‘well I’ve just seen the conductor & he won’t let you travel in this carriage’. I ask ‘why?’. She says ‘you need a 1st ticket’.
“I ask ‘why have you assumed I don’t have a 1st class ticket?’ She says ‘well, have you got one?’. I reply ‘have you?’. She says ‘yes I have’.
“I ask ‘what made you ask that question to me and no one else?’ She says ‘it’s because I wanted to sit with you, I just need to make sure’.
So, I got on the train with my 11 year old daughter...didn't even sit my bum on the seat good & a lady approaches me & asks me if I have...
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
...a 1st class ticket. I look around. My daughter & I r the only black people in the packed carriage. I ask her "why did you ask me that?"
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
...she replies "well I've just seen the conductor & he won't let you travel in this carriage" I ask "why?" She says "you need a 1st ticket"
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I ask "why have you assumed I don't have a 1st class ticket?" She says "well, have you got one?" I reply "have you?" She says "yes I have"
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I ask "what made you ask that question to me and no one else?" She says "it's because I wanted to sit with you, I just need to make sure"
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I say "I don't need a ticket for u to sit opposite me, no need to lie, my 11 year old could tell you why you asked, why not just be honest?"
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
“I say ‘I don’t need a ticket for u to sit opposite me, no need to lie, my 11 year old could tell you why you asked, why not just be honest?’.”
Jamelia said she told the woman “the least you could do is admit you were wrong to do so”, to which she said the woman asked what she was implying.
She said: “I laugh, and say ‘let’s be honest, you’ve asked me because I look like young black girl & you’ve allowed your prejudice to speak for you’.”
...The least you could do is admit you were wrong to do so" her "no, I wasn't wrong, what are you implying?" - try flip the script on me 😂😂😂
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I laugh, and say "let's be honest, you've asked me because I look like young black girl & you've allowed your prejudice to speak for you"
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
"No, that's not it, I would ask anyone I'm sitting with if they have a 1st class ticket" i burst out laughing she says "don't laugh at me"
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I look her dead in the eye & say "let this be a lesson to you, don't you ever make this assumption out loud again, I hope you feel ashamed"
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I then pick up my stuff & move to another table in the carriage with my daughter...a white guy sits down where we were sat...Not. A. Peep.
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
Jamelia said she laughed when the woman said she “would ask anyone I’m sitting with if they have a first class ticket”.
She said: “I look her dead in the eye & say ‘let this be a lesson to you, don’t you ever make this assumption out loud again, I hope you feel ashamed’.”
Jamelia and her daughter Tiana then moved, adding that a “white guy” who then sat in her seat was not challenged by the same woman.
My daughter looks over at the lady and says "Are you not going to ask him for his credentials then?" The lady turned as red as a beetroot.
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I'm done not calling people out. I am also raising two wonderful young women who will grow up to call you out too...you have been warned 😑😑😑
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
Before anyone asks 🙄😩😂 pic.twitter.com/O0iqhfH77l
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
She said: “My daughter looks over at the lady and says ‘Are you not going to ask him for his credentials then?’ The lady turned as red as a beetroot.
“I’m done not calling people out. I am also raising two wonderful young women who will grow up to call you out too … you have been warned.”
This is earlier...but hella appropriate 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/bbhiugkGnB
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
Last year, Jamelia said she was left scared for the safety of her children after she was racially abused by a man she believed was a police officer.
A representative for Jamelia has been contacted by the Press Association.
