Jason Derulo slams American Airlines over 'racial discrimination'

Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Jason Derulo lashing out against American Airlines with the singer claiming the he and his staff experienced "racial discrimination" following a dispute over baggage fees.

In speaking with People magazine, Derulo shared his side of events that included the performer having to exit a departing plane after discovering that the airline was going to charge him $4,000 to check-in his party's bags after a friend was left to take care of the luggage after the group arrived late for their flight from Miami to Los Angeles.

"We'd never paid for our bags because of our status—with all of our miles—so we'd never paid for bags. So $4,000 is obviously a huge sum. We were like, 'No, we're not paying that. We've got to turn the plane around,'" he said to People magazine.

He said the plane's captain began berating the group and he was met by 15 police officers once they disembarked.

"As you can imagine, I'm surrounded by 15 police officers, I'm not going to curse back because I know what's going to happen," he says. "So I pick up my phone, and I go live on my Instagram," Derulo explained.

"So I go live, and I start to hear whispers happening, and as soon as they find out who I am, everything changes," Derulo claims. "Every single person becomes somebody else, and all of a sudden, we're not in trouble anymore."

On Instagram, Derulo shared his experience alongside a photo of an American Airlines worker writing, "@americanair I spent millions on your airline throughout the past ten years between myself and my entire staff but have still experienced racial discrimination today at miami airport!!! Called 15 police officers on me as if I'm a criminal! It's not ok that when you find out who I am the gears change! [expletive] that!! I want answers #conciergekey #conciergekeymember #thecaptainneedstoshowrespecttoo cause he could #cashmeoutsidehowboutdat #notypo #ifiwasanyoneelseiwouldhavebeenarrested."

A police report obtained by ABC affiliate Local 10 News stated that an American Airlines employee approached a police officer and stated that Derulo and his crew "all smelled of marijuana and were starting to get aggressive," however the worker then declined assistance in dealing with them.

Derulo had claimed on his Instagram live video obtained by TMZ that he was a Concierge Key member of American Airlines which allows him to bring an unlimited amount of bags onto a plane however, a representative for the airline has stated that only the most elite passengers receive three checked bags for free.