Selma Blair makes first public appearance at 90s Con after plane altercation and arrest
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT: Selma Blair attended 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, on Friday, October 16, meeting fans and posing for photographs days after her arrest over allegations of assaulting flight crew members, a nurse, and a police officer.
The 54-year-old actress appeared at a signing booth during the convention, which confirmed her attendance earlier in the week. Blair also broke her silence about the incident on Friday through a statement issued by her representative to PEOPLE.
Selma Blair meets fans at 90s Con days after arrest
Influencer Brad Deiter shared a photograph with Blair on Instagram on Friday. Another fan posted a picture of herself embracing the smiling actress while Blair sat in a chair. That’s4Entertainment, the organization behind the annual convention, confirmed on Tuesday that Blair would attend as planned, writing, “Selma Blair will be joining us at 90s Con as planned. See you there!”
The organization had previously announced that the 'Legally Blonde' star would be available for autographs, selfies, professional photo opportunities, and a question-and-answer panel throughout the weekend.
Although Blair was initially scheduled to participate in a Q&A panel, her name was absent from the full panel schedule shared on Sunday.
That’s4Entertainment subsequently told a commenter that Blair had “elected to spend more time at table to meet fans.” The schedule was published before her arrest later that day.
Blair was arrested at New York City’s John F Kennedy International Airport shortly after 11 pm local time on Sunday. She allegedly punched a flight attendant and bit another crew member during a Delta Airlines flight. She was also accused of assaulting a nurse and a Port Authority Police officer.
Selma Blair faces investigation after alleged plane incident
Blair appeared in court on Monday and was arraigned on two counts of assault involving the officer and nurse, according to a criminal court affidavit. The judge set bail at $20,000 cash, $60,000 bond or a $60,000 partially secured bond.
Blair was released on bail that evening. A Delta spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that the flight had departed Los Angeles earlier that day and said the incident had no operational impact. “Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first,” the spokesperson said.
Law enforcement responded after the aircraft landed in New York. On October 12, Blair’s representative told PEOPLE that the actress had experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct. “Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition,” the statement added.
Blair’s attorney, Shawn Barnes, told the New York Post and the New York Daily News that she had missed several doses of medication and had endorsed a heavy work schedule before the flight. He emphasized, “This was not an intentional assault.”
The FBI confirmed that it was investigating the incident, while a source told PEOPLE that Blair would likely face state and federal charges. The actress was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune disease, in 2018. Her service dog, Scout, was reportedly with her during Sunday's incident.
On Friday, Blair addressed the situation through a lengthy statement issued by her representative to PEOPLE. “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,” the statement read.
