Lois Larson
John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, has been at the centre of a long-simmering debate over whether it should be renamed. The airport was renamed in 1979 to honour actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and died that year. However, Wayne's comments in a 1970s Playboy interview, in which he expressed support for white supremacy and made derogatory comments about the Black, Native American, and LGBTQ+ communities, have led to calls for the airport to revert to its original name. While some argue that removing Wayne's name would reflect the increasing diversity of the county, others believe that doing so would be a failure to distinguish between those celebrated for their despicable views and those who are not.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | John Wayne Airport |
| Previous Name | Orange County Airport |
| Renamed | June 20, 1979 |
| Reason for Rename | In honor of actor John Wayne, who lived in neighboring Newport Beach and died that year |
| Rename Debate | Yes |
| Reason for Rename Debate | John Wayne's comments in a 1970s interview to Playboy were believed to be in support of white supremacy |
| Rename Supporters | Orange County Democratic Party, local professors, OC Democratic Party, Ada Briceño, Chapman University’s Fred Smoller, Michael Moodian, 700+ people on Change.org |
| Rename Opponents | Wagner |
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What You'll Learn
- John Wayne Airport was originally named Orange County Airport
- John Wayne's comments in support of white supremacy have sparked debate
- The OC Democratic Party has called for the removal of John Wayne's name and statue
- Orange County is more diverse now than in 1979 when the airport was renamed
- A Change.org petition for the name change has over 700 signatures
John Wayne Airport was originally named Orange County Airport
John Wayne Airport, located in Santa Ana, California, was originally named Orange County Airport. The airport serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area. It was renamed on June 20, 1979, in honor of the actor John Wayne, who lived in neighboring Newport Beach and died that year.
The airport is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa. Its IATA airport code is registered to Santa Ana, the county seat. A statue of John Wayne, nicknamed "the Duke", was installed at the airline terminal in 1982.
In recent years, there have been calls to rename the airport due to John Wayne's racist views and comments. In a 1971 Playboy interview, he made several derogatory comments about the Black, Native American, and LGBTQ communities. In the interview, he stated that he believes in white supremacy and that he believes minorities are "irredeemably inferior". These comments have sparked outrage and led to a petition with over 700 signatures calling for the airport's name to be changed.
Despite the controversy, some have defended John Wayne's legacy, arguing that his views on race were wrong but not at the same level as Confederate leaders, who believed in the inherent inferiority of minorities. The debate over the airport's name continues, with some suggesting a return to its original name, Orange County Airport, or simply calling it Santa Ana Airport.
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John Wayne's comments in support of white supremacy have sparked debate
John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, is facing renewed calls to be renamed due to comments the actor made in a 1971 Playboy interview, believed to be in support of white supremacy. In the interview, Wayne made several derogatory comments about the Black and Native American communities, as well as the LGBTQ+ community.
In the interview, Wayne is quoted as saying, "I believe in white supremacy," and "We can't all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks." These comments have sparked outrage and led to a debate about whether the airport, which was renamed in his honor in 1979, should bear his name in an increasingly diverse metropolitan county.
Supporters of the name change argue that Wayne's views on race are unacceptable and that removing his name from the airport would reflect the county's growing diversity. They also point to the national movement to remove symbols of white supremacy and the lasting trauma such symbols can cause to oppressed groups. Additionally, they argue that Wayne should not be celebrated at the airport, especially considering the impact his views can have on the Black community and people of color.
Opponents of the name change, however, argue that Wayne is not celebrated for his views on race and that there is a distinction to be made between his views and those of Confederate leaders, who believed in the inherent inferiority of minorities. They suggest that a society capable of drawing this distinction would not need to rename the airport.
The debate over the airport's name is not new. In 2020, following the police murder of George Floyd, there were similar calls for the airport to be renamed, and for the removal of a statue of Wayne from the airport. A Change.org petition for the name change has garnered over 700 signatures. Despite these efforts, the airport still bears the name of John Wayne, and it is unclear if and when the name will officially be changed.
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The OC Democratic Party has called for the removal of John Wayne's name and statue
The calls for removal come in response to Wayne's comments in a 1970s interview, in which he expressed support for white supremacy and made derogatory comments about the Black, Native American, and LGBTQ communities. In the interview, Wayne stated that he he "believe[s] in white supremacy" and that people should not "get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks."
The OC Democratic Party passed a resolution condemning Wayne's "racist and bigoted statement" and requested that all references to him be removed from the airport. Ada Briceño, chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County, emphasized that the effort is part of a growing "national movement" to eradicate symbols of white supremacy from public spaces. Briceño also noted that Orange County's increasing diversity makes the removal of Wayne's name and statue particularly pertinent.
The statue of John Wayne, nicknamed "the Duke," stands at 9 feet tall and is located in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal on the Arrival Level. It was commissioned by the John Wayne Associates and created by sculptor Robert Summers. It was dedicated to the county in 1982, three years after the airport was renamed.
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Orange County is more diverse now than in 1979 when the airport was renamed
The John Wayne Airport, originally named the Orange County Airport, was renamed in 1979, the year John Wayne died. The airport is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County and is owned and operated by the county. It is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa.
In recent years, there have been calls to rename the airport due to John Wayne's racist views and comments. In a 1971 Playboy interview, Wayne made several derogatory comments about the Black, Native American, and LGBTQ+ communities. He also expressed support for white supremacy, saying that he "'believes in white supremacy'" and that people should not "get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks."
Orange County is more diverse now than it was in 1979 when the airport was renamed. The growing diversity of the county has led to a re-evaluation of whether John Wayne, with his controversial views on race, is still the right fit for the airport's namesake. Ada Briceño, chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County, has led efforts to rename the airport, citing the need to remove symbols of white supremacy and reduce the trauma inflicted on oppressed groups.
The movement to rename the airport gained momentum after the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, with local professors and the OC Democratic Party joining the calls for a name change. In 2022, discussions about a new logo for the airport also sparked a debate about its name, with many people commenting that the logo discussion missed the more important issue of the airport's name and its association with John Wayne.
While some people support the name change, others argue that John Wayne is not celebrated at the airport for his views. They believe that renaming the airport would show a society incapable of drawing a distinction between a person's positive and negative qualities. Despite the ongoing debate, as of April 2025, the airport retains the name John Wayne Airport.
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A Change.org petition for the name change has over 700 signatures
The efforts of the Orange County supervisors to create a new logo for the John Wayne Airport have revived the debate about the suitability of the airport bearing John Wayne's name. This is due to the actor's views on race, with many citing comments made by him in a 1970s interview with Playboy, where he expressed support for white supremacy.
In the interview, Wayne stated that he he "believe[s] in white supremacy" and that the public should not "get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks". These comments, along with others made in the same interview that were derogatory towards the LGBTQ community and Native Americans, have led to a Change.org petition for the name change, which has garnered over 700 signatures.
The petition is part of a growing "national movement" to remove symbols of white supremacy from public spaces, including monuments, sports teams, and businesses. The movement gained momentum following the police murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests against police brutality and racial inequality.
The petition calls for the airport to be renamed to its original name, the Orange County Airport, or to be referred to by its IATA airport code, SNA, as in Santa Ana Airport, or simply Orange County Airport. This would be a more inclusive name, reflecting the diversity of the county, which has become more ethnically diverse since the airport was renamed in 1979, the same year that John Wayne passed away.
While some supporters of the name change suggest completely removing any reference to John Wayne, others propose a compromise. They argue that the airport could retain the name but remove the statue of the actor, which was installed in 1982. This statue, also known as "the Duke", stands at 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and is located in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal on the Arrival Level.
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Frequently asked questions
John Wayne Airport has not been renamed. However, there have been calls to change the name due to John Wayne's racist comments in a 1971 Playboy interview.
In the Playboy interview, John Wayne made derogatory comments about the Black, Native American, and LGBTQ communities. He also expressed support for white supremacy.
The calls for renaming began in 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd. Local professors and the OC Democratic Party led the initial demands.
As of 2024, the effort to rename the airport is ongoing. The Democratic Party of Orange County passed a resolution condemning John Wayne's comments and requested the removal of his name and statue. Over 700 people have signed a Change.org petition in support of the name change.
The airport was originally named Orange County Airport before it was renamed after John Wayne in 1979, the year of his death.
