John Barrowman has faced a backlash from fans after complaining about the service he received during a business class flight, with some accusing the actor of behaving like a “diva”. The former Dancing on Ice judge, 59, posted a video from his business class seat on an American Airlines flight in which he complained about not receiving complimentary pyjamas.
Complaint over missing pyjamas
Barrowman, who was travelling with his father and husband, questioned why the pyjamas were apparently only being provided to passengers sitting in the first two rows of business class. He said the tickets had been expensive and complained that the service had also included a meal order being wrong and his party being told they would not receive exactly the same food as other passengers despite all having what he described as the airline's “flagship service”.
In the video, Barrowman addressed American Airlines directly and asked why the service had fallen short of his expectations. He described the situation as “shady” and “bad customer service”, adding that the airline's flagship service was “not hitting the ball out of the park”.
Fans divided over reaction
Barrowman later deleted the video after fans responded critically in the comments. One follower accused him of being entitled, writing: “The entitlement is off the scale.” Another sarcastically wrote: “Our thoughts are with John Barrowman at this difficult time.” A further commenter told the actor to stop complaining about the missing pyjamas, arguing that someone able to afford a business class ticket could simply buy a pair.
However, not everyone criticised Barrowman. Some social media users defended him, arguing that customers paying a premium price for a service should be entitled to expect the service advertised. One person wrote that if someone pays a lot of money for a service, they would expect to receive what they had paid for. Another said they could not understand why Barrowman should be criticised for asking about something that was included in the service.
Career rebuilding continues
The row comes as Barrowman continues to rebuild his career following a difficult period in the spotlight. The actor previously revealed that he had contemplated suicide after his career suffered a major setback in 2021 following allegations that he had exposed himself while working on Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood.
Speaking about the period last year, Barrowman described experiencing extremely dark thoughts and questioning how he would move forward. He has since returned to television and theatre, appearing on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and starring in the theatre production Laid Bare.
His latest social media row has divided fans, with some viewing his complaint as an example of celebrity entitlement while others argue that paying for a premium service makes it reasonable to question shortcomings.
