Man with beard shaves it off because people thought he was a terrorist

A barber from the UK liked to sport his beard

But received lots of nervous looks, with people thinking he might be a terrorist

So he decided to shave it off

A black barber from the UK was forced to shave of his beard in order to take off his “terrorist” look. People were always whispering around him, and even refusing to seat beside him on public transportation.

John Essien, who is black British, admits that one day while riding the tube (London’s underground), people fled the carriage he was in, when his hairdressing clippers started vibrating inside his bag.


Essien with his bearded look

37-year-old Essien got tired of the looks and comments on his style. He shaved off his beard, and decided to stop carrying a backpack.

Essien, who lives in Amersham, has four daughters. He does admit to understanding the alarm has raised in some people when he sported the long beard.


Now, his "after" look
Yet he is worried some can be so “judgmental”. He adds that “we're all equal and I think people do need to speak out and understand. I started getting paranoid. I thought 'do I smell'?”


The accomplished barber comments the situation “was getting to” him. He called it a horrible experience. He says that now his beard is off, the situation gas radically changed