Waris Ahluwalia, well known Sikh actor and designer, said on Monday that he was barred from boarding an AeroMexico flight From Mexico City to New York because of his turban.
"This morning in Mexico City I was told I could not board my @aeromexico flight to NYC because of my turban," Ahluwalia captioned an Instagram photo of himself holding up his boarding pass.
The 41-year-old actor was heading to New York for the New York Fashion Week, which starts Wednesday.
Ahluwalia, who has made appearances in films like "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "The Darjeeling Limited," was prohibited from flying after he was asked to take off his turban for security screening, which he refused.
"That is not something that I would do in public," he said, according to New York Daily News. "That's akin to asking someone to take off their clothes."
Ahluwalia asked if he could remove his turban in a private screening area, but his request was denied, after which, an Aeromexico staff member told him that he "will not be flying Aeromexico" and that he should "book another flight."
"I was shaking at first," Ahluwalia said. "That's not a nice thing to be told, that you are not allowed to fly on this plane because of something you are wearing, or because of your religious beliefs."
"About the situation of passenger Waris Ahluwalia, Aeromexico reports that he was asked to submit to screening and inspection before boarding, in strict compliance with TSA protocol," said an Aeromexico spokesperson, according to The Huffington Post. "We have offered the passenger to alternatives to reach his destination as soon as possible. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by this incident."
However, Ahluwalia shared another Instagram update that stated that he was still in Mexico City, 13 hours after the incident and that "no traveler should be subjected to" what he had to go through.
Ahluwalia made news in 2013 after the Gap ad he modeled for was vandalized with racist graffiti. The ad campaign's slogan of "Make Love" was changed to "Make Bombs," as HNGN previously reported.
A photo posted by Waris Ahluwalia (@houseofwaris) on Feb 8, 2016 at 5:58am PST
Dear NYC fashion week. I may be a little late as @aeromexico won't let me fly with a turban. Don't start the show without me. #lovenotfear #fearisanopportunitytoeducate A photo posted by Waris Ahluwalia (@houseofwaris) on Feb 8, 2016 at 9:43am PST
A photo posted by Waris Ahluwalia (@houseofwaris) on Feb 8, 2016 at 6:33pm PST
