Qantas has rejected accusations of in-flight racism from US performer will.i.am (pictured leaving Sydney Airport on Sunday), with the Australian airline saying it would back legal action against the Black Eyed Peas frontman

Qantas has rejected accusations of in-flight racism from US performer will.i.am, with the Australian airline saying it would back legal action against the Black Eyed Peas frontman.

The multiple Grammy-winning artist had lashed out at a Qantas flight attendant and named her on Twitter after she called the police over an altercation during a flight from Brisbane to Sydney.

In his tweets, the star said the crew member had been 'overly aggressive' and unnecessarily escalated the situation after he didn't hear an on-board safety briefing because he was wearing headphones.

Using the hashtag #RacistFlightAttendant, he said she was 'beyond rude' and 'took it to the next level by calling the police', five of whom were waiting for him when the 90-minute flight landed on Saturday.

'Thank god the other passengers testified that SHE was out of control,' tweeted William Adams, better known by his stage name will.i.am, adding that the police had 'finally' let him go.

He said he had complied 'quickly & politely' with instructions from the woman to put his laptop away.

Singer will.i.am, who's real name is William Adam launched into a Twitter rant (pictured) after he believed he was abused by Qantas flight attendant because of his race

'I don't want to believe she racist. But she has clearly aimed all her frustrations only at the people of colour,' he wrote.

A spokesman for the Australian flag carrier said Qantas 'completely' rejected the suggestion that race was a factor in the incident.

'There was a misunderstanding on board, which seems to have been exacerbated by will.i.am wearing noise-cancelling headphones and not being able to hear instructions from crew,' he said.

The airline initially said over the weekend that it would be 'following up with will.i.am and wish him well for the rest of the tour'.

But on Monday a spokesman said the airline would be willing to support legal action against the star.

Will.i.am is seen departing Sydney Airport an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland after controversy on a Qantas flight

'Absent a retraction, and if the crew member wanted to take the matter further, we'd certainly be willing to provide legal support for them to do this,' he said.

Australia has extremely strict defamation laws and courts routinely rule in favour of those claiming reputational damage.

Meanwhile, Janet Jackson's bassist Eric Smith also accused Qantas of racism, claiming the airline did not permit him to take his guitar on board - despite allowing 'white passengers' to do so.

Smith said he was trying to board a flight from Brisbane to Sydney with his instrument on Saturday morning when he was told he had to check the item instead.

He was also asked to sign a waiver stating the airline wouldn't be responsible for any damages - after allegedly witnessing white passengers boarding the plane with instruments with no issue.

The musician, who was travelling to Australia to perform at RNB Fridays Live featuring Jackson and will.i.am, spoke out on the incident on Monday morning following the Black Eyed Peas frontman's row with Qantas.

Janet Jackson's bassist Eric Smith (left) said he was trying to board a flight from Brisbane to Sydney with his instrument on Saturday morning when he was stopped by staff

Smith addressed the incident on Twitter at the time urging black musicians to boycott the airline

'I'm sitting at the gate area and the guy comes to me with a piece of paper said, 'I need you to sign this and I need you to give me your guitar',' Smith told Melbourne's KIIS 101.1's Jase & PJ.

'I was like, 'for what reason?' and he said, 'well it's a waiver for damages because we need to stick your guitar under the plane and we're not responsible for damages.''

Smith claimed at that moment he saw other passengers, who were white, boarding the plane with their instruments without a problem.

He later shared photos on Twitter of another guitar case stowed away in the overheard compartments.

When he asked why he wasn't allowed to take his guitar as well, he claimed the attendant 'basically told me that wasn't my concern.'

Smith shared photos showing another guitar stored in the overheard compartment (left)

'He said it's at the flight attendant's discretion and the flight attendant said I couldn't bring my instrument on.'

Despite his frustration, Smith, who said his team has flown with Qantas 'every single flight', said he remained calm and tried to reason with the employee.

'I wasn't trying to be that guy. I wasn't like, 'let me speak to your supervisor, what's your name?' I never went there with the guy. I was just like, 'sir, I'm just trying to work.''

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Qantas said the crew's suggestion for Smith to check the instrument was standard procedure.

'When musicians bring oversize instruments onboard like guitars, our crew are required to ensure that this has been pre-arranged. So there's nothing out of the ordinary about our crew checking that this has been done. We have not received a formal complaint from Mr Smith about this flight,' a spokesperson said.

Earlier, Smith had addressed the incident on Twitter urging black musicians to boycott the airline.



The artist defended his decision to name the employee saying the same would happen to him if he were accused of doing something wrong

He later asked his followers not to send 'hate' saying 'a lack of compassion' was the root of the problem.

'I'm really upset at the way I was treated by a gate agent. Black musicians , DON'T fly on @Qantas @QantasUSA. He tried to make me check my guitar, & sign a waiver while he's letting WHITE musicians walk right past us taking there's onboard. Lost my window seat too! I'm done!!!' he tweeted.

Smith shared a photo of his guitar strapped in the seat next to him while showing another guitar stowed in the overhead compartments.

It comes two months after Australian twin-sister pop duo The Veronicas were removed from a Qantas flight by police following a disagreement with staff over luggage.

The Veronicas released a statement in support of the will.i.am on Sunday.

The Veronicas' Jess and Lisa Origliasso (pictured) were booted off a flight from Sydney to Brisbane in September

The Australian musicians shared this statement on Twitter before deleting their account

In September, Jess and Lisa Origliasso were removed from a Sydney to Brisbane flight after a disagreement with staff over luggage and claim the same flight attendant was involved

'Sadly this female flight attendant was 1 of the 2 attendants involved in our incident with Qantas,' the women claimed.

'We feel sickened she has given no reprisal & has instead continued to abuse her position, discriminate, and misuse the full force and intimidation of the Australian Federal Police to her agenda. In this case to menace will.i.am & other POC on this flight.

'Both our incident and the recent not taken further by the AFP, stating it is a QANTAS issue not a police matter.'

Both Janet Jackson and will.i.am travelled to Australia to perform at the RNB Fridays Live festival this weekend

Jess and Lisa Origliasso were themselves removed from a Sydney to Brisbane flight in September after a disagreement with staff over luggage.

The sisters claimed they asked a flight attendant for help manoeuvring a bag in the overhead locker, but were refused because it was against company policy.

A fellow passenger helped instead but after they were seated, they claimed two flight attendants came over and lectured them, then ordered them off the plane.

Qantas said claims that the same crew members were involved were 'completely untrue'.

The Veronicas' Twitter account has since been deleted.