By Sheila Mckenzie–
Blue singer Lee Ryan has been found guilty of the racially aggravated assault of a female cabin crew member on a British Airways flight.
Ryan had reportedly consumed a bottle of port before boarding the flight. He was arrested under a public order offence at London City Airport on 31 July 2022, shortly after the incident occurred.
Ryan was found guilty at Ealing Magistrates’ Court of being drunk on an aircraft, assaulting a police officer by biting him, racially aggravated common assault by beating and behaving in an abusive way towards the cabin crew member.
The 39 year old who participated in Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, was convicted following an incident on a journey from Glasgow to London in July last year.
Ryan, who sobbed a lot during the hearing, and said as much as possible in an attempt to excuse his conduct, failed in his bid to successfully bet the allegation, which now stains his police record as a racist.
Ealing Magistrates’ Court heard the singer was “slurring his words and staggering around” after drinking a whole bottle of port before the flight.
The singer denied that the use of the word ‘chocolate’ was in relation to race and said his actions had been “playful”.
The complainant Ms Gordon said: “He was making comments about my complexion, ‘you’re my chocolate darling, my chocolate cookie, and I’m going to have your chocolate children
After boarding the British Airways flight, the 39-year-old was refused alcohol and told to sit down.
The court heard he then told his victim “I want your chocolate children” and called her a “chocolate cookie”, before grabbing her wrist.
Giving evidence, the woman said: “He was making comments about my complexion, you’re my chocolate darling, my chocolate cookie, and I’m going to have your chocolate children.”
The flight attendant said Ryan later approached her from behind, saying: “Before I get off this plane I need a kiss from you.”
After telling him to “stay away”, she said he grabbed both her wrists before passengers intervened.
She said: “He was towering over me, like he was leaning in to give me a kiss.”
The flight attendant told the court: “He said to me ‘I want your chocolate children.’”
She added: “I was intimidated, I felt a bit embarrassed like I wasn’t doing my duty properly.
“To get comments about my colour whether intentional or not, it was just unacceptable and so derogatory.
The singer told the court he drank a whole bottle of port and ate cheese in the BA lounge after the flight was delayed.
He told the court of “annoying” a passenger next to him by asking what book he was reading, with no recollection of what occurred after that.
Apology
The pop star went on: “I’m sorry.
“My band member is black, I’m not racist, I’ve had black girlfriends, mixed-race girlfriends.
“It was banter, just drunk banter I suppose, there was no malice or intention to upset anyone.”
He added: “I didn’t mean to cause any distress to anyone or be racist, it was just a poor choice of words I suppose.”
Ryan told the court his actions were merely “playful” and denied the use of the word chocolate was racist.
He also claimed to have said “chocolate chip cookie”, adding: “They’re white, there was no malice in them (the comments).”
He added: “I am sorry that I touched her, but that’s all I did, touch her lightly, by her admission.”
He told police officers in an interview, read to the court: “I wish I could ring her up and apologise and offer her some Blue tickets for the next tour.”
Ryan shot to fame in 2001 with the boyband Blue.
He released his first single “Army of Lovers” in July 2005. which debuted at No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and hit No. 1 in Italy.
In August 2005, Ryan released his debut album, Lee Ryan, to mixed reviews
Their court-themed debut song All Rise reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and topped the charts in New Zealand.
Blue eventually attained three UK number one singles across four years before splitting in 2005 so the band members could pursue solo careers and Blue represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany with the song “I Can”, placing 11th overall.
In August 2013, Ryan and Duncan James appeared in an episode of comedy panel show Through the Keyhole in which the host showed around their home in London.[10][11]
Ryan has pretty much stained much of his accomplishments with this conviction.
He can appeal the ruling.