Selma Blair Recounts Alleged Threat From Director Over Misconduct

Selma Blair has shared a harrowing account of an alleged encounter with director James Toback in her early 20s, stating that he threatened her into silence after pressuring her to undress for a monologue. Blair detailed the experience on "The Jenny McCarthy Show," describing Toback as "really, really scary" and the encounter as "horrifying" and "traumatic."

Blair recounted that Toback instructed her to perform a monologue naked, which she did despite her discomfort, initially believing it was an acting exercise. She recalled feeling scared and being a "people pleaser." Following the incident, Blair stated that Toback made disparaging remarks about her appearance.

Most disturbingly, Blair alleged that Toback threatened her directly, saying, "You know, if you ever tell a soul, I'll gouge your eyes out with a Bic pen." She stated that she believed him and remained silent about the experience for years.

Blair's allegations were part of a 2017 investigation by the Los Angeles Times, which detailed similar accusations from dozens of women against Toback. The women reportedly described instances where Toback allegedly used the promise of acting opportunities to initiate sexually inappropriate interactions. Blair was initially an anonymous source in the investigation, but later decided to go public after Toback reportedly disputed the accusers' accounts.

In October 2017, Blair and actress Rachel McAdams publicly shared their allegations against Toback in a Vanity Fair interview. Toback has previously denied the sexual misconduct allegations.

Blair recently faced legal issues herself. Earlier this month, she was arrested and arraigned on two counts of second-degree assault related to an incident on a Delta Air Lines flight. She pleaded not guilty to accusations of assaulting a nurse and a police officer. Blair is scheduled to appear in court in January 2027.