Actress Morgan Fairchild recounted a terrifying abduction that occurred in New York City in 1970, detailing how she used humor to escape her assailants. The incident, which took place when she was 20 years old and visiting her sister, has prompted her to advocate for increased awareness of surroundings, particularly for women.
Fairchild described walking down a New York street in broad daylight when two large men approached her. Despite her attempts to ignore them, they forcibly put her into a loitering taxi. She stated that bystanders at a nearby bus stop and on the street did not intervene, and some even laughed. This lack of action, Fairchild recalled, made her realize how easily someone could disappear without a trace.
Inside the cab, separated from the driver by thick plexiglass, her abductors revealed they were a pimp and a drug pusher. They described their intentions for her, but Fairchild, despite being frightened, responded with wisecracks. She said her attempts at humor managed to make them laugh, leading one of the men to suggest letting her go.
"At one point, unbelievably to me, one of them looked at the other and said, 'She's funny. Let's let her go,'" Fairchild told Fox News Digital. The men paid the driver to take her back to her sister's apartment. Following the ordeal, Fairchild stayed indoors for three days, deeply shaken by the experience.
Fairchild, who was promoting her new podcast "2 B----es From Texas" with her sister Cathryn Hartt, shared the story to emphasize the vulnerability individuals can face. She noted that she was not acting recklessly at the time, as she was simply walking in daylight and not in a dangerous situation.
Her experience has led her to maintain a constant vigilance regarding her surroundings. "I always scan buildings. I keep an eye out all the time to see if I'm being followed," she said. Fairchild also specifically warned against the dangers of walking while preoccupied with a cell phone, stating it makes individuals unaware and vulnerable. "Never assume that you're safe," she urged.
Beyond personal safety, Fairchild hopes her podcast, which features stories from her career, will encourage greater kindness and understanding among people. She signs off on her social media with the hashtag #bekind, emphasizing what she believes is a missing element in contemporary society.