Selma Blair Breaks Silence on Mid-Air Incident, Cites Medical Emergency
The actress's representative stated she experienced a medical emergency and did not intend to harm anyone during the Delta flight.
Actress Selma Blair has addressed the incident aboard a Delta flight that led to her arrest and assault charges, stating she experienced a medical emergency and did not intend to harm anyone. Blair, 54, was accused of assaulting flight attendants and a police officer after the flight landed at JFK Airport on Sunday.
Her spokesperson told People that the public narrative has been based on a police statement and that Blair experienced a medical emergency, not an attempt to open the aircraft door. The representative also corrected any suggestions that Blair does not have multiple sclerosis, a diagnosis she made public in 2018.
"Selma Blair experienced a medical emergency on the flight. There was no attempt to open the door of the aircraft. Selma did not intend to harm anyone," the spokesperson stated.
Blair's legal team claims she had missed several doses of medication intended to manage severe neurological symptoms associated with her multiple sclerosis. Her attorneys told the New York Post that Blair had hit her head during the flight and was also suffering from confusion and disorientation due to altitude, combined with extensive work hours leading up to the journey.
"Ms. Blair boarded this flight after being on set and working extensive hours and exhaustive hours in the days leading up to this flight," her lawyer Shawn Barnes told the court. "Additionally, at one point, during the flight, there was an incident where Miss Blair actually fell and hit her head."
Barnes emphasized that the incident was not intentional and that Blair has pseudobulbar affect, a neurological condition secondary to MS that can affect how medical episodes present. Blair was traveling with her service dog, which was reportedly taken from her by authorities.
Blair pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault on Monday and was released on $20,000 bail. Prosecutors stated that she allegedly struck a flight attendant, bit another, kicked a police officer, and kicked the chest of a nurse. Both the nurse and police officer reported pain, with the officer experiencing a swollen jaw.
A Delta representative said the company has "zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first." The FBI is investigating the incident, as assaults aboard aircraft fall under its jurisdiction.
Blair is best known for her roles in films such as "Cruel Intentions," "Legally Blonde," and "Hellboy." She publicly shared her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018 and has been an advocate for disability awareness, having visited the White House in 2023 for an event commemorating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
She is scheduled for a court hearing on January 19. In 2016, Blair was removed from a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles after a reported incident where she stated she had blacked out due to a combination of medication and alcohol.