Selma Blair has spoken publicly for the first time since being charged with assault following an alleged incident aboard a flight from Los Angeles to New York. In a video posted on Instagram, Blair said she was “so sorry” to anyone she had hurt, frightened or alarmed.
Blair pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault. She is accused of kicking a police officer and a nurse after the flight landed in New York earlier this month. Her representatives previously said the alleged behavior was caused by a severe medical emergency.
“I know I’ve been quiet for a couple weeks since October 11,” Blair said, adding that her lawyers had advised her not to discuss the events because of the ongoing legal matter. She said she was taking the situation seriously and had never intended to hurt or frighten anyone.
Blair also thanked people who had contacted her with messages of support and said her service dog, Scout, who was traveling with her, was doing well. The actor, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, said she would focus on her health and her son.
Blair was detained after the Delta flight arrived in New York and was taken to hospital for evaluation. According to charging documents, a police officer alleged that Blair pulled one leg free while being secured to a stretcher and kicked him repeatedly in the face, neck and chest, causing significant pain and swelling. A nurse later alleged that Blair kicked her in the chest.
At her arraignment in Queens, a judge set bail at $20,000 in cash or a $60,000 bond and scheduled the next hearing for January. Blair’s lawyer, Shawn Barnes, said her actions were not intentional. He told the court that she had missed several doses of medication for severe neurological symptoms, had been working heavily before boarding the flight and had hit her head during the journey. According to reports cited in court coverage, Barnes said those factors and the altitude contributed to severe confusion and disorientation.
Sources: The Guardian Film.