A UK-based drag queen has claimed that she was cut from a trailer for Virgin Airlines’ ‘Pride Flight’ after employees at the film company found out she was a woman.

The trailer was for the upcoming ‘Pride Flight’ by Virgin Airlines which is part of World Pride 2019. The flight from London to New York City will be staffed entirely by LGBT+ pilots and cabin crew, and will feature queer on-board entertainment including a Judy Garland sing-along, an in-flight DJ and inter-seat speed dating. The flight will be hosted by Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Tituss Burgess.

Lacey Lou had been cast to appear in a trailer by Sassy Films, who contacted the performer on Instagram. She shared screen grabs of her correspondence with the company on Twitter.

A thread on the emails between me and Sassy Films, the company Virgin Atlantic gave their brief to for the Pride Flight. I’ve blocked out emails of the employee at Sassy and the fellow performers personal emails.

— Lacey Lou ? (@LaceyMcFadyen) October 12, 2018

Lacey Lou was told she had been shortlisted to appear in the trailer and to keep September 24 free for shooting.

A few days later, an email was sent to all the drag performers, including Lacey, who had been selected to appear in the trailer. A follow-up email asked for all the drag queens to send a photo without any makeup. On Twitter, Lacey noted that she had never been asked this in a casting process.

A thread on the emails between me and Sassy Films, the company Virgin Atlantic gave their brief to for the Pride Flight. I’ve blocked out emails of the employee at Sassy and the fellow performers personal emails.

— Lacey Lou ? (@LaceyMcFadyen) October 12, 2018

When Lacey sent a picture of herself out of drag, she was told she had been let go from the shoot.

The email read: “I am going to have to release you from this one! Unfortunately, the client has said they would like to go in a different direction. I am sorry to let you down at this stage.”

The Sassy Films’ employee added: “We have got your details on file and will be in touch when something comes up in the future!”

A thread on the emails between me and Sassy Films, the company Virgin Atlantic gave their brief to for the Pride Flight. I’ve blocked out emails of the employee at Sassy and the fellow performers personal emails.

— Lacey Lou ? (@LaceyMcFadyen) October 12, 2018

In her reply, Lacey said that from their prior correspondence it seemed that she had been cast in the trailer for the pride flight. She asked the company for the reason why she was let go, writing:

“I do not wish to make assumptions but due to the fact this change of heart came about immediately after sending a picture of myself out of drag, this implies that this change of heart may be to do with the fact that I’m a woman? Like I said, the job seemed to have been all but finalised to me.”

In her next Tweet, Lacey claimed that she received a follow-up call from a Sassy Films employee who confirmed that she was dropped because she was female. Lacey tweeted that “the client requested male drag queens only” and that, while they “loved her aesthetic” there was nothing they could do.