LEONA LEWIS RACE ROW

'Shop kicked me and dad out because of our colour'

I WEPT: Shocked Leona Lewis

01/11/2009

FURIOUS Leona Lewis yesterday told how she and her dad were ordered out of a shop in a tirade of "racist" slurs.

The X Factor winner and her Guyana-born father Joe were shopping in the London store when a woman assistant began to hurl abuse.

Leona had been picking out photo frames while her dad waited outside, chatting on his phone. But a row erupted when he joined his world-famous daughter and picked up an item, asking if she liked it.

"I went up to the till and asked how much it cost," said Leona, 24. "But the woman told us to get out.

"I couldn't believe it. I asked what she meant and she said, 'I don't like the look of him'. Pointing at my dad, she said, 'He's been standing outside my shop and I want him to go right now. I know why you're coming in here'."

Leona admits that she completely lost it at the suggestion they were out to steal.

The Bleeding Love singer said: "She came up to my face, shouting, 'Get out or I'm calling the police'.

"It was disgusting. I just couldn't believe someone was shouting at me in front of so many people.

"I was crying and bawling. I said, 'No. I'll call the police. This is racism'." Leona, who is still recovering after being punched by a crazed fan during a book signing session two weeks ago in London's Piccadilly, was so incensed she finally had to be dragged from the shop by her father.

"Afterwards, I sat outside in the car for ten minutes as he tried to calm me down," she recalled.

"I'd never experienced anything like that. Being judged by the colour of your skin is horrible."

daniel.sanderson@notw.co.uk

Your comments

This article has 8 comments

thats not racism the shop worker just thought that her dad was stealing it could of happebed to anyone

By chris. Posted November 6 2009 at 6:12 PM.

To taylor...you have obviously never experienced racism....it isnt about playing no card its about being mistreated, treated unfairly being made to feel worthless and inferior due to the colour of your skin which is something you have no control of. it must have felt awfull for leona
what did she do wrong?
she didnt deserve that

what an awful human being that shop keeper is.

By Nat. Posted November 2 2009 at 3:37 AM.

"I went up to the till and asked how much it cost," said Leona, 24. "But the woman told us to get out.

"I couldn't believe it. I asked what she meant and she said, 'I don't like the look of him'. Pointing at my dad, she said, 'He's been standing outside my shop and I want him to go right now. I know why you're coming in here'."

I see no mention of racism...
If this story is true The Manager/Assistant has a right to ask someone to leave if they are surrounding a business area looking suspicious. The racism card doesnt need to played everytime

By taylor. Posted November 1 2009 at 3:44 PM.

i think that the women was being out of order, I mean Leona was just shoppin there not stealing; you shouldn't judge someone by the skin colour - thats outrageous!!!!

By Christina. Posted November 1 2009 at 12:17 PM.

Appalling, the shop should be named and shamed

By Peter Carr. Posted November 1 2009 at 12:20 PM.

But the shop owner has every right to ask people to leave if she wants. Race was not mentioned, so why is this racist?? Just because Leona is black??

By Donna . Posted November 1 2009 at 11:58 AM.

If you don't see a lawsuit filed by this woman because of this you will know then that the story is made up just to get media attention. That's pretty desperate if that is the case.

By Hmmm. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:52 AM.

Why are TNOTW not naming n' shaming the store if the story is legit? That kind of behaviour is just not accetable. She should have called the police!

By Mazz. Posted November 1 2009 at 5:51 AM.

We have to check every comment before we can allow it to be published. But don't worry, we've got a team on it 24/7 - so check back soon! Please note that we cannot publish all comments received. The editor's decision is final. Please note that your email address will not be displayed next to your comment.