Leona Lewis, father become victims of racism

London (ANI): Singer Leona Lewis has revealed how she and her father became victims of racism during a shopping trip. The Bleeding Love singer said that she and her Guyanese-born father Joe were shopping in a London store when a woman assistant started abuse them.

The X Factor winner had been picking out photo frames while her father waited outside, talking on his phone. However, a row erupted when he joined his world-famous daughter and picked up an item, asking if she liked it. "I went up to the till and asked how much it cost. But the woman told us to get out," News of the World quoted Lewis as saying.

"I couldn't believe it. I asked what she meant and she said, 'I don't like the look of him'. Pointing at my dad, she said, 'He's been standing outside my shop and I want him to go right now. I know why you're coming in here'," she added.

The 24-singer said that she completely lost it at the suggestion they were out to steal. "She came up to my face, shouting, 'Get out or I'm calling the police'," she said. "It was disgusting. I just couldn't believe someone was shouting at me in front of so many people. I was crying and bawling. I said, 'No. I'll call the police. his is racism'," she added.

The singer was so angry that she finally had to be dragged from the shop by her father. "Afterwards, I sat outside in the car for ten minutes as he tried to calm me down. I'd never experienced anything like that. Being judged by the colour of your skin is horrible," she said.