Actress Selma Blair's publicist has stated that she did not intend to harm anyone during an incident on a flight traveling to New York, attributing the event to a "medical emergency." Blair, known for her roles in "Legally Blonde" and "Hellboy," is reportedly still managing multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological disorder that can impact her behavior.
According to a statement from her team, the public account of the events aboard the Delta Airlines flight has been largely based on a police report, and they assert that there is more to the story. The publicist denied media reports suggesting Blair attempted to open the aircraft door. Blair, 54, was accused of assaulting two flight attendants on the flight from Los Angeles to New York.
Blair has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting an officer and a nurse, which were filed after she was removed from the plane. Two additional assault charges were filed in state court.
The incident led to a pilot requesting medical assistance due to a "bloody nose" and "some bite marks" from the passenger, according to air traffic control audio. Blair was arrested and taken to a hospital. She was subsequently issued a federal summons by the FBI for an assault charge related to the altercation.
Her publicist emphasized that Blair has never been arrested before this incident and highlighted her ongoing public battle with MS, which she revealed in 2018. Although she announced she was in remission in 2021, the statement noted that she still experiences "bad days" and lives with daily pain.
Additionally, Blair has been diagnosed with pseudobulbar affect (PBA), a condition associated with brain injury or neurological dysfunction that can lead to uncontrollable episodes of crying, laughing, or anger. The publicist described Blair's accomplishments since her MS diagnosis as "nothing short of a miracle" and urged for a full consideration of the facts before judgment.
Blair was released on bail after pleading not guilty to the state court charges.