Brief
Selma Blair’s team cites medical episode as cause of Delta flight incident
The actress’s spokesperson says a medical crisis, linked to her multiple sclerosis, led to the alleged in‑flight assault and she did not intend to harm anyone.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Representatives for actress Selma Blair released a statement on Friday asserting that a neurological episode, not violent intent, caused the alleged assault on a Los Angeles‑to‑New York Delta flight on Sunday, according to Gulf News.
The statement, which cites the Associated Press, says Blair, 54, "did not intend to harm anyone" and denies claims that she tried to open the aircraft door. Authorities allege she injured two flight attendants during the flight, then kicked a police officer escorting her to a hospital and a nurse after arrival. Blair has pleaded not guilty to two state assault counts involving the officer and the nurse, is free on bail, and is scheduled to appear in court in January.
The FBI has issued a separate federal assault notice over the in‑flight allegations, the report adds. Blair, who disclosed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018, lives with constant pain and experiences pseudobulbar affect, a condition linked to her MS that can affect how medical episodes appear to observers. Her team says the condition explains her behavior and notes that she travels with a service dog, which authorities removed after the incident.
Blair’s representatives criticized media coverage for relying heavily on police statements and a 2016 in‑flight incident, calling such reporting "outrageous". They praised a few journalists who reported on her as a person rather than a headline, but said fair reporting has been the exception.
Key facts
- Selma Blair’s team says a neurological episode caused the alleged in‑flight assault (gulfnews.com)
- Blair has pleaded not guilty to two state assault counts and faces a federal assault notice (gulfnews.com)
- She is free on bail and due back in court in January (gulfnews.com)
- Blair lives with multiple sclerosis and pseudobulbar affect, and travels with a service dog that was taken by authorities (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Selma Blair’s team says medical crisis behind alleged in-flight assault: 'Did not intend to harm anyone'”
