Selma Blair's Representatives State No Intent to Harm During Flight Incident
The actor's team pushes back against portrayals following her arrest, citing medical and neurological conditions.
Representatives for actor Selma Blair stated that she did not intend to harm anyone during a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York, an incident that led to her arrest. The statement released Friday aimed to counter what her representatives described as inaccurate and unsympathetic portrayals of the actor.
According to the statement, Blair experienced a medical emergency on the flight and there was no attempt to open the aircraft door. Blair, 54, has multiple sclerosis (MS), a diagnosis that has been public since 2018. Her representatives emphasized that it is "outrageous" to suggest otherwise and highlighted that she lives with daily pain and has pseudobulbar affect, a neurological condition secondary to MS that can affect how medical episodes present.
Her team also noted that Blair travels with a service dog, which was taken from her during the incident. The statement asserted that Blair has been a consistent advocate for disability rights and the MS community.
Blair was accused of injuring two flight attendants on the plane. Upon arrival at John F. Kennedy Airport, she was further accused of kicking a police officer who was escorting her to the hospital and a nurse once she arrived. She pleaded not guilty on Monday to state charges involving the officer and nurse and is free on bail, with her next court date in January. The FBI has also issued Blair a notice charging her with assault related to her actions aboard the aircraft.
Air traffic communications indicated the Delta pilot requested medical personnel be available at the gate to treat bite marks and a bloody nose, but stated ambulances were not necessary.
Blair, known for roles in films like "Cruel Intentions" and "Legally Blonde," has previously addressed incidents related to travel and medication. In 2016, she apologized for statements made during a flight, attributing her actions to a combination of alcohol and medication that caused her to black out.
Her representatives stated that the public narrative of the recent events has been largely based on a police statement and older reporting, and that fair reporting has been the exception, allowing speculation to be treated as fact.