Selma Blair's rep cites medical emergency after arrest

Selma Blair's representative issued a statement to People on Friday, asserting that the actress experienced a medical emergency during a Delta Air Lines flight and did not intend to harm anyone. The spokesperson rejected the public narrative built on a police statement and a decade-old headline, noting that speculation had hardened into fact in the absence of prior comment. The statement clarified that there was no attempt to open the aircraft door and that Blair's diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, made public in 2018, is central to understanding the incident. The rep emphasized that Blair lives with daily pain and has pseudobulbar affect, a neurological condition secondary to her MS that affects how medical episodes present to others. Authorities removed her service dog during the incident, the statement noted. The spokesperson listed Blair's work in 2026, including seven film and television projects, the launch of skin care, clothing, and eyewear lines, and advocacy work for disability rights and the Jewish community. The statement concluded by asking the public to consider all facts before judging, noting that there is much more to the story than has been reported. Blair was arraigned in Queens on Monday on two counts of second-degree assault. She pleaded not guilty to accusations that she assaulted a nurse and a police officer after an incident aboard Delta flight 938 from Los Angeles to New York City. A judge set bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond, with a court date scheduled for January 2027. New York Port Authority Police Department officials confirmed responding to a call about a physically abusive passenger at JFK Airport around 11 p.m. on October 11. Court documents state that Blair was restrained on a stretcher but freed her leg and allegedly kicked an officer in the face, neck, and chest, causing substantial swelling. A nurse at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center alleged Blair kicked her in the chest during transfer. Attorney Shawn Barnes told the New York Post that Blair missed doses of medication controlling severe neurological symptoms and had fallen and hit her head during the flight. Barnes argued that these factors, combined with altitude, caused severe confusion and disorientation. Delta confirmed law enforcement responded to the incident upon arrival at JFK but stated there was no operational impact as the flight landed ahead of schedule. Sources told TMZ that Blair allegedly punched one flight attendant and bit another during the flight.