Tracee Ellis Ross walked into an airport like any other traveler. What happened next had her cringing in front of strangers. A carry-on bag. A suspicious item. And a TSA agent with a smirk. The star of Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross says she will never forget it. She called it embarrassing. She called it private. And she shared it with the world on late night TV.
The Awkward Airport Confession
Tracee Ellis Ross opened up on Jimmy Kimmel Live during an August 15 appearance. She sat across from guest host Nicole Byer as the story spilled out. Byer asked her to name the weirdest thing she had ever packed. Ross shifted in her chair before answering. She was 52 and laughing nervously as she began. The black-ish star said it happened on a trip for her new show. Her bag was flagged for extra screening at security.
The TSA agent did not stop at the surface. Ross said they went through “every single little bag” inside her carry-on. The moment quickly turned tense for her. One of those small bags carried things from her bedside table. She called them private bedside table things. The star relived the awkward silence that followed. She even acted out the look the agent gave her. A half-smile and a finger point sealed the humiliation.
Ross did not hide how it made her feel. She admitted it left her flustered in public. “I was so embarrassed,” she repeated more than once. She described the agent’s reaction with precision. A knowing grin made it worse. The audience laughed with her, but the sting was clear. It was a personal item pulled into the spotlight. And she told millions about it.
The Rules That Made It Happen
Ross explained why the item was in her carry-on to begin with. She said it was all about following the rules. According to her, anything with a rechargeable battery must go in a carry-on. She followed that guideline exactly. That decision put her in the hot seat. She added a hair flip while making her case. It was her way of keeping the story light. But the fact remained that she had no choice.
She told Byer that being a rule follower worked against her that day. The rechargeable battery meant there was no hiding it. TSA agents had every reason to dig into her bag. And that was where the awkward reveal happened. The audience groaned and laughed with her. She laughed too, but her words showed the moment stuck with her. She had carried the embarrassment through to the late night stage.
Nicole Byer joined in with her own airport tale. She talked about a trip to Amsterdam. In her carry-on, she had packed rubber duckies. The security team did not grin, they laughed openly. She said it felt mean and left her embarrassed too. Ross laughed at the comparison. Two stars, two awkward travel stories. And a crowd eating up every detail.
From Awkward Moment to Global Adventure
The interview shifted from the TSA story to her new series. Ross described the inspiration behind Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross. She said she had been traveling alone since her twenties. Every year she took one or two solo trips. Now at 52, it had become a lifelong habit. Fans had even noticed her vacation style. One airport worker told her people waited for her outfits online. That sparked the idea for the show.
She brought the idea to her manager. They talked about turning her travel routine into something bigger. The Roku Channel picked it up. The show premiered on July 25. She filmed in Morocco, Spain, and Mexico. She wanted viewers to see her journeys unfold. It was a project born from her love of travel. And from a fan base that kept watching her adventures.
Ross admitted she was a self-described over packer. She said she checked anywhere from three to eight bags. That was on top of her carry-on. She called her policy “BIA” which meant “Bring it all.” For her, vacation was a chance to wear everything beautiful she owned. She even prepared for disaster while abroad. Spain had given her one such challenge. And she hinted there was more to come in the series.