Odell Beckham Jr’s attorney is calling for a flag on the play after the wide receiver was reportedly ejected from an American Airlines flight heading from Miami to Los Angeles.
Attorney Daniel Davilier released a statement on Sunday afternoon, just hours after his client had been escorted off the flight, saying that what the Americans Airlines flight crew had described as Beckham fading in and out of consciousness was just him falling asleep.
A statement from Daniel Davilier — Odell Beckham Jr’s Attorney: pic.twitter.com/2ofpyHGJ5A
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 27, 2022
In the statement, Davilier claimed that Beckham had simply been sleeping and had pulled a blanket up over his face “which is his normal practice for long flights” — and had only awakened when crew members informed him that they had returned to the gate and he would have to exit the plane for failure to put on his seatbelt when asked.
“He responded that he was asleep, and that he would put his seatbelt on at that time. He was informed that it was too late, and that either he would have to get off the plane or everyone would have to deplane,” the statement continued.
The statement went on to note that the crew did eventually have everyone get off the plane — and noted that Beckham’s luggage was still sent on to Los Angeles.
“Sleeping on a plane should not be a cause for removal from a flight,” the statement concluded, arguing that if flight crews could wake him at the gate, they could have awakened him early and avoided the situation entirely.
According to American Airlines — with an assist from the Miami-Dade Police Department — members of the flight crew were concerned because Beckham appeared to be in and out of consciousness prior to takeoff.
Also according to the airline, Beckham initially refused to exit the plane — which was the reason everyone else was forced to deplane.
🚨FA WR Odell Beckham Jr. getting escorted off an @AmericanAir plane
pic.twitter.com/wcr37CC9Vf— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 27, 2022
Beckham, who was reportedly quiet as he walked through the airport, responded to the situation later in a series of tweets.
“Never in my life have I experienced what just happened to me… I’ve seen it all,” he tweeted.
Never in my life have I experienced what just happened to me… I’ve seen it alll..
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) November 27, 2022
“Never. In. My. Life,” a second tweet read.
Never. In. My . Life
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) November 27, 2022
“I COULD NEVER MAKE THIS UP,” he added.
I COULD NEVER MAKE THIS UP.
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) November 27, 2022
And finally: “Comedy hr.”
😂 comedy hr.
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) November 27, 2022