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Blue star Lee Ryan told a black stewardess “I want your chocolate children” before attempting to kiss her for an upgrade to business class after drinking an entire bottle of port in the BA lounge, a court heard today.
The singer broke down in tears in the dock this morning, referring to his bandmate Simon Webbe as evidence he wasn’t a racist and telling police he wished he could “call”. [the stewardess] get up and apologize and offer him some blue tickets.’
Ryan, 39, was “stammering and staggering” after downing the drink before his flight from Glasgow to London City Airport on July 31, Ealing Magistrates Court was told.
After being denied more alcohol on the plane and told to return to his seat, Ryan made comments about a flight attendant’s appearance, calling her a “chocolate cookie” before allegedly grabbing her by the wrists.
Blue star Lee Ryan (pictured leaving court this afternoon) told a black stewardess “I want your chocolate children” before attempting to kiss her and ask for an upgrade to business class after drinking an entire bottle of port in the BA room, a court heard today
The singer (pictured arriving at court) broke down in tears in the dock this morning, referring to bandmate Simon Webbe as evidence he wasn’t a racist and telling police he wished he could call. [the stewardess] Get up and apologize and offer him some blue tickets’
The musician is accused of being drunk on an aircraft, assaulting a police officer, racially aggravated common assault by hitting and abusive behavior towards a cabin crew member.
The flight attendant told the court that Ryan initially called her “beautiful” and pushed the sunglasses on her face.
She said: “He was making comments about my complexion, you’re my chocolate love, my chocolate cookie, and I’m going to have your chocolate children.”
She continued: “It sounded like he was saying I was beautiful to a black person by the way he described my color.”
The flight attendant said Ryan then came up behind her and said, “Before I get off this plane, I need a kiss from you.”
After telling her to “stay away,” she said he grabbed her by both wrists before the passengers intervened.
She said: “He was towering over me, like he was leaning in for a kiss.”
The flight attendant told the court: “He told me ‘I want your chocolate children’.”
She added: ‘I was intimidated, felt a bit embarrassed as if I wasn’t doing my duty properly.
“Getting comments about my color, whether intentional or not, was just unacceptable and very derogatory.
“I felt like it wasn’t fair and I shouldn’t have to put up with it. I don’t go to work to be mugged or harassed.’
Ryan arriving at Ealing Magistrate Court this morning. He is accused of being drunk on an aircraft, assaulting a police officer, racially aggravated common assault by hitting and abusive behavior towards a cabin crew member.
Ryan, 39, formed the boy band Blue in 2000 with Antony Costa, Duncan James and Simon Webbe.
Ryan, who was in tears in the dock before testifying, said he drank an entire bottle of port and ate cheese in the BA lounge after his flight was delayed.
He told the court that he had “disturbed” a passenger next to him by asking what book he was reading, with no recollection of what happened after that.
The pop star continued: ‘I’m sorry. My band member is black, I’m not racist, I’ve had black girlfriends, mixed race girlfriends.
“They were jokes, just drunken jokes I guess, there was no malice and no intention to upset anyone.”
He added: “I didn’t mean to cause anyone distress or be racist, I guess it was just a bad choice of words.”
Ryan told the court that his actions were simply ‘playful’ and denied that the use of the word chocolate was racist.
He also claimed to have said ‘chocolate chip cookie’, adding: ‘They are white, there was no malice in them (the comments)’.
He added: “I’m sorry I touched her, but that’s all I did, touch her lightly, by her admission.”
He told police officers in an interview, he read to the court: “I wish I could call her and apologize and offer her some blue tickets for the next tour.”
They assured that he tried to bite one of the agents after being arrested at the London airport, to which he replied: “I don’t remember that.”
Another flight attendant, who also testified in court, said Ryan approached her shortly after the plane left.
She said: “He told me that he had a problem, that he was being harassed by other passengers, that he was famous and asked if I knew who he was.”
Ryan asked to be upgraded from economy to business class, but was denied because the plane was full, he told himself.
The flight attendant said: “He was angry, he said he was a gold card holder and needed to be transferred because of this.”
He noticed that Ryan was “slurring and reeling” and prevented him from ordering alcohol, it was alleged.
Ryan followed her to the back of the plane and asked for another drink, but was denied, he said.
He told her ‘stop being boring, let’s go have a drink’, the court heard.
Ryan, 39, formed the boy band Blue in 2000 with Antony Costa, Duncan James and Simon Webbe.
The group has sold some 14 million records and had three Number 1 albums.
Blue completed their latest UK tour, Heart and Soul, just before Christmas and are scheduled to perform at various venues around the world later this year.
His biggest hits include All Rise, One Love and Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.
The trial continues.