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Back to the day job: Naomi Campbell returns to the catwalk after claiming she was called a gollywog
Last updated at 18:32pm on 22.06.08
Supermodel Naomi Campbell returned to the catwalk yesterday after avoiding a prison sentence for an air rage assault on a British Airways flight.
The 38-year-old model appeared to be back to her best as she sailed down the runway at the Dolce & Gabbana lingerie at Milan Fashion Week.
Campbell had accused BA of racism, claiming cabin crew staff called her a ‘Gollywog’.
Naomi Campbell on the catwalk this week for Dolce and Gabbana. The model has accused British Airways staff of calling her a 'gollywog supermodel'
She branded the airline ‘disgusting’ – a day after pleading guilty to charges over an air-rage row.
The unrepentant star – now banned for life from BA flights – said: ‘I was called a racial name on that flight and that was part of my reaction.
‘I was called a “Gollywog supermodel”. I don’t think that’s really fair, do you?’
She spoke out before she flew to Italy on another airline.
On Friday, Campbell was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ community work for kicking and spitting at police officers.
She also screamed at the BA pilot when one of her bags went missing during chaos at Heathrow’s new Terminal 5.
The supermodel arriving at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Friday
But she claimed she had reacted to racist abuse by a member of the airline.
A BA spokeswoman firmly denied any racist remark had been made.
She said: ‘BA does not accept any allegations of racism.
'We have strict policies concerning dignity at work and longstanding training programmes on diversity and inclusion.’
Magistrates at Uxbridge, West London, heard how Campbell screamed and swore at BA captain Miles Sutherland after she was told about her missing bag as she sat in her £5,000 first-class seat waiting for her flight to Los Angeles to take off.
She lashed out when police arrived to remove her.
Assault: The 37-year-old leaving Heathrow police station after she was arrested for lashing out at at police officers who tried to remove her from the BA flight
The model pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer, one of disorderly conduct likely to cause harassment and using threatening, abusive words or behaviour.
Magistrates told Campbell that the community service was part of a 12-month order.
They ordered her to pay compensation of £200 each to the two officers she assaulted and £150 to the captain. She was also fined £2,300.
Campbell admitted after the court hearing that she ‘took it too far’.
But she added: ‘As for British Airways, I don’t apologise. I just think they’re disgusting because there are people still waiting for their luggage.’
The catwalk queen pictured leaving a Department of Sanitation facility in New York in March 2007 while serving a community service sentence for throwing her mobile phone at her maid in a row over a pair of missing jeans
Reader views (5)
That's an insulting thing to say about my lovely gollywog I cuddle.
- Nat, Croydon
The best?! She's an infantile idiot who has a temper tantrum whenever things don't go her way. Not to mention the countless occasions she's been violent to her staff. And to accuse BA of racism...talk about scraping the barrel. She should be in prison.
- Ellie, London
1. If she was called a racist name why isn't she suing BA?
2. How come that didn't come out when the reports of the incident surfaced in the first place?
3. Where are the witnesses to support her story?
4. She kicked and spat at the policemen not any BA staff who allegedly made the remarks, so her temper can't be rationalised or excused on that score.
- Marie, London
I think the world has bigger and better issues to talk about than a spoilt model who cries about lost bags. Surely Naomi should contribute to charities in poor communities than wine over lost luggage.
- Justin, Hargiesa, Somaliland
Just like to say who would want to be famous, this lady cant do nothing right. I notice staff that don't like her are quick to sell there stories when they get the sack. I wonder why? Keep doing that cat walk Naomi your the best.
- Darren Ellerman, cardiff wales
