Rami Malek accuses Los Angeles police of 'racism': Was he 'racially profiled'?

Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek has stated that he was 'racially profiled' by the Los Angeles Police Department. 

The 43-year-old film star recounted an incident following a robbery where he was mistaken for a suspect due to his ethnicity. According to Malek, the Los Angeles police adopted a racist attitude toward him during the incident because of his ethnic background.

The time and location of the alleged incident were not specified.

Malek, known for his performance in the film 'Bohemian Rhapsody', described the event with the following words:

''I was thrown onto the hood of an LAPD police car because someone had robbed a liquor store and stolen a woman's purse. They told me, 'You fit the description,' saying (the thief) was Latino.''

According to the claim, the officers forced Malek face-down onto the hood of the police car and searched him. After a friend who was with him pointed out that Malek was not Latino but of Egyptian descent, the officers allowed Malek, who was 'grinning' at them, to leave.

Malek stated that laughing at the police while describing the event was a risky move.

HE IS ALSO STOPPED AT AIRPORTS BECAUSE HE IS EGYPTIAN

Malek also noted, while 'joking' about how airport security frequently subjects him to extra scrutiny upon seeing his name when he travels, the following:

''Every time I travel to other countries, I started thinking, 'What is going on?' They stop me every single time. Then they say, 'No, that's the guy from 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' Let him through.'''

Malek is not the only star to speak out about racial profiling. In December 2023, actress and singer Fantasia Barrino claimed that she and her family were profiled by Airbnb after their landlord asked them to vacate their rental property.

Fantasia Barrino