Selma Blair breaks silence after shock plane arrest
Selma Blair‘s spokesperson has spoken out about the actress’ arrest after an alleged violent incident aboard a Delta Air Lines flight, claiming she “did not intend to harm anyone.”
“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,” Blair’s spokesperson told People.
Selma Blair’s spokesperson has addressed the allegations surrounding her recent arrest. Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images
The 54-year-old star was arrested at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport on Sunday after an alleged altercation with flight attendants.
Blair appeared in court on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) where her lawyer claimed she did not intend to assault a police officer and a nurse.
The Legally Blonde actress pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault following the allegations.
She is also accused of punching one flight attendant and biting another during the flight.
Blair could face between two and seven years behind bars if convicted.
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Selma Blair’s legal team reveal reason for in-flight attack: ‘Severe confusion and disorientation’
In a statement, her spokesperson disputed several claims surrounding the incident, including reports the actress had attempted to open the plane door mid-flight.
“Selma Blair experienced a medical emergency on the flight. There was no attempt to open the door of the aircraft. Selma did not intend to harm anyone,” the spokesperson said.
The representative also said the coverage of Blair’s arrest had led to speculation being presented as fact.
Blair pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault following the alleged incident. AP Photo/Ryan Murphy
“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 statement said.
In 2018, Blair publicly revealed her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
Her spokesperson addressed her health, describing suggestions that she did not have the condition as “outrageous”.
“She still has bad days, and she lives with pain daily,” the spokesperson said.
The statement also revealed Blair has pseudobulbar affect, a neurological condition associated with MS, which, “bears directly on how a medical episode presents to people who do not know her.”
Blair’s lawyers previously told the court she had missed her prescribed medication and hit her head before the alleged attacks.
“These factors coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,” her lawyer Shawn Barnes told the court.
The actress was released on bail after appearing in a New York court on Monday. Barry Williams / New York Daily News via Getty Images
“This was not an intentional assault.”
The spokesperson also noted Blair’s continued work in film and television, saying she had worked on seven projects this year despite her ongoing health challenges.
“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.”
Blair was released on bail following her court appearance, with her case adjourned until January 19, 2027.
