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Selma Blair's Rep Defends Actress After Arrest
· Confirmed
In Short: Blair's rep also noted that the actress had never been arrested before this incident and that she had been working extensive hours before the flight.
Selma Blair's spokesperson has issued a statement defending the actress after her arrest for allegedly assaulting flight attendants on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York on Sunday night. The spokesperson said that Blair did not intend to harm anyone and that the incident was a result of a medical emergency, according to Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter.
Blair's rep also noted that the actress had never been arrested before this incident and that she had been working extensive hours before the flight. During a court appearance on Monday, Blair's attorney Shawn Barnes said that Blair had missed taking medication that manages her multiple sclerosis, which contributed to her state of confusion and disorientation, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
According to Variety and Rolling Stone, Blair was detained after allegedly assaulting multiple flight attendants and exhibiting erratic behavior on the inbound Delta Airlines flight. Two flight attendants were reportedly injured, with one being bitten by Blair, leading to her arrest and charges of second-degree assault.
Blair's spokesperson emphasized that the actress has been a visible and relentless advocate for disability rights, the MS community, and the Jewish community in the face of rising antisemitism. The spokesperson also noted that Blair had worked on seven film and television projects in 2026 alone, though only a couple have been announced, and had launched several lines of products built around the idea of beauty and utility for people with disabilities.
The spokesperson criticized the media for focusing on a decade-old incident in 2016 where Blair was removed from a plane for causing a disturbance, and for not reporting on Blair as a human being. They stated that fair reporting has been the exception, and that speculation has hardened into something being treated as fact.
Blair pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail. She is scheduled to appear at a Comic-Con in Connecticut this weekend. Delta Airlines spokespersons stated that the airline has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of their customers and crew always comes first.
The spokesperson also mentioned that Blair's dog was taken from her during the incident, and that Blair had received immediate medical attention upon landing and was in stable condition.
In closing, Blair's spokesperson wrote, '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.'
What this adds
The facts do not establish the full extent of Blair's medical condition or the exact nature of her behavior on the flight.
What's confirmed
- “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,” her spokesperson told People.
- What Selma has been able to do physically in the years since is nothing short of a miracle.
What's still developing
- “A handful of journalists have taken the time to report on Selma as a human being rather than a headline, and we are grateful to them,” Blair’s rep said without specification.
- Blair’s rep initially said the actress suffered a “medical emergency,” but the initial investigation found that the actress had an altercation with three flight attendants that resulted in their injuries.
- Law enforcement was waiting for the 54-year-old “Legally Blonde” actress at John F.
- The 54-year-old actress was apparently en route to JFK Airport in New York City on Sunday (October 11).
- TMZ claims she “attempted to open the aircraft door while the plane was in the air,” which then led to a situation with the crew on board.
- This is not the first time Selma has had issues on board an airplane.