Comedian Eric André Reinstates Lawsuit: Airport Stop Sparks Controversy
ERIC ANDRÉ LANDS BLOW TO CLAYTON COUNTY IN LAWSUIT OVER AIRPORT INCIDENT
Comedian and actor Eric André, star of Happy Gilmore 2, is celebrating a major victory in his ongoing lawsuit against Clayton County, Georgia, after a shocking twist in the case has revived the suit nearly two years after it was initially thrown out.
The drama began in April 2021 when André, 42, and fellow entertainer Clayton English, 43, claimed they were racially profiled by officers with the Clayton County Police Department while attempting to board flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Both men are Black, and according to their complaint, their racial background played a significant role in why they were stopped.
The bizarre incident unfolded as André and English, who have been linked to supermodel Emily Ratajkowski in the past, made their way through jet bridges connecting them to Los Angeles-bound Delta planes when police intervened. In separate incidents, André was allegedly stopped on April 21, 2021, while English was detained in October 2020.
André took to Twitter at the time of the incident, alerting then-Vice President Kamala Harris and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to what he described as a harrowing experience. In a series of tweets, André claimed that two plainclothes police officers stopped him on his way down the jet bridge, requesting to search him for drugs. When he refused, they allegedly let him go.
However, in an explosive twist, Clayton County officials initially maintained that both men had given their consent to voluntary searches and that neither was detained. They went as far as claiming that English voluntarily provided information about his travel plans and that André allowed officers to search his luggage (although the search was ultimately not conducted).
But on Friday, a major blow was dealt to Clayton County when the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit revived the case, ruling in favor of André and English. The appeals court found that their rights had been violated by the county's actions, specifically citing instances where officers subjected them to searches without proper cause.
In its decision, the court pointed out that common sense and Supreme Court precedents refute Clayton County's claims, noting that both men were blocked from continuing on their way, with officers holding onto their IDs and boarding passes during questioning. The court also highlighted the fact that neither man was informed of the voluntary nature of the questioning or that they were free to leave until after the officers finished interrogating them.
"I'm thrilled that we've finally gotten some justice in this case," said Barry Friedman, an attorney for André and English. "We look forward to returning to the trial court and learning even more about Clayton County's unconstitutional jet bridge stop program."
André has long maintained that he was racially profiled by the officers, calling their actions "JIM CROW RACISM." He repeatedly denied giving consent for a search, stating that he was detained without probable cause except for racism.
Clayton County officials have come under fire in recent years over allegations of racial profiling and police misconduct. The latest ruling has sparked fresh calls for accountability from the county's law enforcement agencies.
The Atlanta Police Department, which initially issued a statement denying involvement in the incident, is now facing renewed scrutiny. APD claimed that the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is unique in its operation, with multiple law enforcement agencies present. However, critics argue that this only serves to create confusion and justify racial profiling.
As for André, his victory has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. A spokesperson for the Bad Trip actor declined to comment on the story when reached by TheScholarlyNote.com.