A leading London theatre director has told of how a woman removed her mask to cough in the face of his 15-year-old son.
Kwame Kwei-Armah, the Young Vic’s artistic director, shared details of the distressing incident on Twitter on Monday.
The playwright, who is black, said the white woman said to her son: “This is what you people do.”
He added that his son has since tested negative for coronavirus.
Kwei-Armah, 53, tweeted: “I don’t speak of my family on social (media) but last week my 15-year-old was on a train when an adult white woman out of the blue removed her mask and coughed in his face.
“She ran off the train shouting, ‘This is what you people do’.
“Covid test has just come in negative. We are relieved. But really?
Fellow users of the platform rushed to share their support for the director and his family.
The Standard's Arts Editor Nancy Durrant commented: "Good god. What is wrong with people?
"So sorry for your son (and everyone to whom this gives a moment of 'that could have been me/my son/my sister etc')."
Journalist Farah Jassat wrote: "This is awful!!! So sorry and angry to hear. Solidarity Kwame."
And actor Mark Delaney added: "Wow, wtf is wrong with people?!
"The nature of compassion in recent years has taken the most brutal of hits.
"Aggressive ignorance feels more justified for some, than ever before.
"Sending love to your son and your whole family Kwame.
"Here’s to a safer, loving and better future."
Kwei-Armah said had reported the incident to police and they have launched an investigation.
The 53-year-old has been the artistic director of the Young Vic theatre since 2018.
His directing credits include New York’s Public Theatre, Signature Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
His production of One Night In Miami at the Donmar Warehouse was nominated for an Olivier Award for best new play.
