Model Sabrina said the driver asked her where she was from to try and change the terms of the conversation and said it was due to the “climate in the UK” at the moment
Idris Elba’s wife said she was the victim of a racist attack after a woman crashed into her car.
Model Sabrina said the driver asked her where she was from to try and change the terms of the conversation.
The 36-year-old Canadian said it was due to the “climate in the UK” at the moment.
Sabrina – who is also a UN goodwill ambassador – fumed: “So something happened a couple of days ago that is just not sitting right with me.
“I don’t actually usually talk about stuff that is actually happening to me.
“But this woman backed up into my parked car and when I got out to speak to her about the interaction, immediately became hostile.
“She very quickly asked me ‘Where are you from?’
Keep in mind this woman backed up into my parked car.
“And I said ‘Canadian’ and then she asked again.
I think a lot of people know what the question means when they are asked in the tone.”
Sabrina – who wed Luther actor Idris, 53 in 2019 – added: “She wasn’t asking for my biography, she was trying to change the terms of the interaction.
“Suddenly it wasn’t about the fact that she had hit my car.
“It was about whether I belonged enough to hold her accountable.
“This is the part that really bothered me.
“Racism isn’t always theatrical, sometimes it works by redirecting conversations.
“Because you ask for accountability and suddenly my presence became the issue.”
Sabrina continued: “And also I think we need to be honest about the climate in the UK right now.
“When a country spends years publicly debating who belongs, or who is really from here or who is too foreign, too demanding, or like, too ungrateful, too much of a burden.
“That language doesn’t ever stay abstract. It becomes social permission. Permission for people like her.
“It tells people that their suspicions are legitimate. Their resentment to them becomes reasonable.
“Their contempt is like some screwed up common sense.
“Then it shows up in ordinary life like in a car park.”
Fan Abbey Rawle said: “I’m so sorry this happened.
“Every single day, I become more embarrassed by what this country is turning into.”
Jerry Rawlings added: “Probably because you had a nicer car than her.”
Another said: “I am from this parking space.
“That’s the only issue.”