Selma Blair has publicly apologized following her Oct. 11 arrest over allegations that she assaulted two flight attendants aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York. In an Instagram video posted Friday, the actress addressed her silence since the incident and said she was taking the pending legal matter seriously.
Blair said her lawyers had advised her against discussing what happened that day and that she was following their guidance. The Legally Blonde actress nevertheless said she wanted people to hear directly from her, expressing regret for the delay in speaking publicly. She said she had never intended to hurt or frighten anyone and apologized to people who felt disappointed, hurt, frightened or alarmed by her actions.
Authorities arrested Blair at John F. Kennedy International Airport after the alleged incident left two flight attendants injured, with one taken to a hospital. Blair was also transported to a hospital. She allegedly repeatedly kicked the police officer who accompanied her there and kicked a nurse in the chest.
Blair pleaded not guilty to two assault counts. Separate FBI charges are expected as the agency investigates the alleged assaults aboard the aircraft. In her video, Blair did not offer an account of the events underlying the case, instead emphasizing that she understood the seriousness of the matter.
The actress also thanked those who had contacted her with messages of love and concern, saying their support had meant a great deal to her and her son. She described her son as central to her life and said her immediate priorities would be caring for her health and looking after him.
Blair's spokesperson previously characterized the episode aboard the plane as a medical emergency and said she had not tried to open an aircraft door. The spokesperson also said Blair had no intention of harming anyone. During a court appearance after the incident, her attorney, Shawn Barnes, said she had been working long, exhausting hours before the flight and had struck her head. He attributed her severe confusion and disorientation to those circumstances combined with the altitude.
In another statement, Blair's representative rejected suggestions that she does not have multiple sclerosis. The representative also said she has pseudobulbar affect, a neurological condition, and argued that it affects how a medical episode may appear to people unfamiliar with her.
The representative pointed to Blair's work on seven film and television projects in 2026, along with the launch of skin care, clothing and eyeglass reader lines. The statement also highlighted her advocacy for disability rights, the MS community and the Jewish community. Saying Blair had no previous arrests, the representative urged people to consider the full circumstances before reaching conclusions.
