The US actor and comedian Eric André has claimed he was racially profiled at Melbourne airport.
In a video posted on Instagram on Monday, the Emmy-nominated host of The Eric André Show said that he was travelling via Melbourne for work over the past few days, and was “pulled out of a lineup and put in a special line” where he was “sniffed thoroughly” by a security dog.
“It’s one of the many times I’ve been racially profiled at the airport,” the comedian alleged, saying the incident took place while travelling by Qantas International via Terminal 2 at Melbourne airport, en route from Los Angeles to Brisbane.
He warned non-white followers travelling through that terminal: “They are searching Black, Brown and Indigenous people.”
In a statement to the Guardian, a Melbourne airport spokesperson said: “Melbourne airport does not tolerate racism in any form. We welcome all passengers to Melbourne, and we expect everyone to be treated equally.
“Upon being made aware of Mr Andre’s complaint, we immediately asked the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the government agencies in charge of processing all international arrivals into Australia, including at Melbourne airport, to investigate. Those agencies have now provided a response to Mr Andre.”
Replying to André’s Instagram post in the comments, a representative of the Australian Border Force said that it had no involvement in the incident, writing: “Here at the ABF we are really proud of our diverse workforce, especially at @melbourneairportau, and the work they undertake – both human and canine – to keep the country safe.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) told the Guardian that all international arrivals are subject to biosecurity screening. “As part of these processes, every traveller will complete incoming passenger cards and may have their baggage scanned through x-rays, be subject to individual inspections and unpacking of baggage, or by general screening with the assistance of our highly trained dogs,” they said. “Any traveller coming into Australia will experience some or all of these screening measures.”
On Instagram, André asked anyone hiring him for future employment in Australia to not make him go through Melbourne airport alone: “Provide a police escort or some type of security escort for me, or have me fly into Brisbane or Sydney directly. I do not feel safe in the Melbourne airport.”
Of the security dog program, he said: “It has nothing to do with safety, it has everything to do with racial harassment.” He also asked followers for recommendations for discrimination lawyers in Australia.
“I don’t want to cut my hair and wear a three piece suit so that I’m treated like a first class citizen,” he continued. “I shouldn’t be made to feel that I am unacceptable by entering a country. Shame on the people at the Melbourne airport that have this cockamamie procedure.”
André did not immediately reply to the Guardian’s request for comment.
At time of publication André’s post had received more than 41,000 likes and 2,300 comments, with many followers posting messages of support and sharing their own experiences.
The Australian actor Zoe Terakes posted: “This is fucked mate. I’m sorry. Big love.”
Adam Briggs, one half of political rap duo AB Original, wrote: “As your Guardian Angel of Racist Australia; welcome!”
André has previously talked about being subjected to racial profiling at airports, and in 2022 he sued Clayton county in the US over an incident involving police at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international airport, which the county described as a “consensual encounter”.
At the time he said: “I have the resources to bring national attention and international attention to this incident. It’s not an isolated incident.”
