Selma Blair Seen With Son and Service Dog After In-Flight Incident
The actress, who has pleaded not guilty to assault charges, was seen in Los Angeles with her son and service dog Scout.
Selma Blair, 54, was seen in Studio City, Los Angeles, with her 15-year-old son, Arthur, and her service dog, Scout. The sighting occurred nearly two weeks after Blair was arrested following an alleged in-flight incident on a Delta aircraft.
Blair has been accused of attacking crew members aboard a flight on October 11. Pilots reportedly requested medical assistance upon landing. The following day, Blair pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault. Her legal counsel stated that she had missed several doses of medication intended to manage severe neurological symptoms associated with her multiple sclerosis (MS). Scout, an English Labrador trained to assist Blair with her MS, was reportedly with her on the flight.
During her recent outing, Blair wore a camel-toned sports jacket over a grey sweater, acid-washed jeans, and black leather boots. She was seen drinking a green juice. The actress shared in a recent interview, recorded before her arrest, that she previously used alcohol to cope with MS symptoms and nerve pain. She stated that while she doesn't live a strictly sober lifestyle, she knows she cannot consume alcohol.
Blair disclosed on Jenny McCarthy's podcast that she began using alcohol at a young age to manage headaches, anxiety, and nerve pain, and to help her sleep. She noted that while alcohol could provide relief, excessive consumption led to negative consequences. She clarified that she does not drink in public, preferring to use it at home to fall asleep, though she acknowledged this was not a healthy coping mechanism.
Her representative issued a statement following the incident, asserting that Blair experienced a medical emergency on the flight and did not attempt to open the aircraft door or intend to harm anyone. The statement also addressed her MS diagnosis, stating it was public knowledge since 2018 and that her ability to function physically in recent years is a testament to her condition. It mentioned her pseudobulbar affect, a neurological condition secondary to MS, which can influence how medical episodes present. The statement also noted that authorities confiscated her service dog and that Blair had no prior arrests.
Blair's lawyer claimed that she had hit her head during the flight and missed multiple doses of her prescribed medication, which controls severe neurological symptoms related to her MS. The legal complaint alleges that Blair kicked a Port Authority Police Department officer and a hospital nurse while being transported from JFK Airport. Prosecutors stated both individuals reported pain following the alleged assaults.
Blair is best known for her roles in films such as "Cruel Intentions" (1999), "Legally Blonde" (2001), and "Hellboy" (2004). She publicly disclosed her MS diagnosis in 2018 and has been an advocate for the disability community, participating in events such as the Americans with Disabilities Act commemoration at the White House in 2023.