A Georgia man named Terry Moorer took to Facebook to share an experience when he almost got arrested storming a plane to ensure Queen Latifah’s comfort, who humbly flew coach for a celebrity basketball game.
It was a day he’ll never forget. He started the post, “The day I almost got arrested for……Latifah.”
Years ago, Terry and his business partner, Gene Peterson, who now scouts for the Golden State Warriors, were responsible for finding talent for Kenny Smith’s celebrity basketball game in Houston.
Since Terry had known Latifah from the beginning of her career, he reached out to her. Without hesitation, she agreed to join the event without any questions or demands.
The day of her arrival, Terry and Gene stood at the airport gate, watching passengers step off the plane one by one. They kept looking for Latifah, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Growing worried, they asked a flight attendant if she was still on the plane. The attendant calmly replied that Latifah was in the coach section, economy class at the back of the plane.
He recalled the moment, writing:
An attendant said she was still on the plane in coach. Coach ??! I hit the damn ceiling!!
Terry Moorer
Terry couldn’t believe what he had just listened to. He had arranged for Latifah to fly in first class, the kind of treatment he felt she deserved.
Frustrated and upset, he pushed past the crowd and stormed onto the plane to find her.
Two flight attendants followed close behind, warning him to stop. They said
Sir, you can’t come on the plane! We’ll call airport security!
Terry Moorer
But Terry kept going, determined to reach Latifah and fix what he thought was a mistake.
As he reached the back of the plane, Latifah stepped out from the economy section.
Terry apologized immediately, saying, “La, I’m so sorry. You were supposed to be in first class.”
But Latifah, true to her grounded nature, just smiled and said, “Its cool. Terry.”
She wasn’t bothered at all and walked off the plane with him, no entourage, no bodyguard.
Above all, what touched Terry even more was something he learned months later. Latifah had been scheduled to perform at a concert in New York that same weekend, but she canceled it to support Terry’s event in Houston.
Latifah didn’t mention it, didn’t ask for anything in return, and just showed up. This spoke volumes about her down-to-earth nature.
Queen Latifah, a global star, didn’t care about fancy plane seats or making a big entrance. She was committed to keeping her word and supporting her friends.
