Actress Selma Blair has broken her silence following a recent incident aboard a flight, with her representative clarifying that she “did not intend to harm anyone.” This statement comes in the wake of reports detailing an alarming altercation that occurred during a Delta Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York City.
Clarification from Selma Blair’s Representative
In a statement to People, Blair’s spokesperson emphasized that much of the public discourse surrounding the incident has been shaped by a police statement and a past headline. “Since Sunday night, the public account of what happened to Selma aboard a flight to New York has been built almost entirely on a police statement and a decade-old headline,” the rep stated.
The Incident Details
On Sunday evening, Blair was detained after allegedly assaulting multiple flight attendants, which was reported to stem from erratic behavior on the flight. Initially, Blair’s representative indicated that the actress suffered a “medical emergency,” but early investigations suggested an altercation with three flight attendants resulted in their injuries.
Denial of Serious Allegations
The spokesperson reiterated that Blair experienced a medical emergency and firmly denied the most severe accusation against her, which claimed that she attempted to open the aircraft door during the flight. “There was no attempt to open the door of the aircraft. Selma did not intend to harm anyone,” the rep confirmed.
Concerns About Perceptions and Background
The term “decade-old headline” refers to a prior incident in 2016 when Blair was removed from a plane for causing a disturbance. Following that incident, Blair revealed her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018, a detail that has been questioned by some in light of recent events. “The suggestion by anyone that Selma does not have multiple sclerosis is outrageous,” her spokesperson stated. “What Selma has been able to do physically in the years since is nothing short of a miracle.”
The statement also noted that Blair “still has bad days, and she lives with pain daily” and mentioned her experience with pseudobulbar affect, a neurological condition that can impact how medical episodes are perceived by those unaware of her health challenges.
Legal Proceedings and Upcoming Appearances
Blair has pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault related to the incident and was subsequently released on bail. She is scheduled to appear at a Comic-Con event in Connecticut this weekend, while the FBI continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the flight incident.
A Call for Understanding
Concluding the statement, Blair’s representative urged the public to consider the full context of the situation: “There is much more to this story than has been reported, and we ask to consider the entirety of the facts before rushing to judgment, whether in the courtroom or in the court of public opinion.”
