Selma Blair emotional in court as she's charged with second degree assault

Hollywood star Selma Blair was pictured in court on Monday (12 October) after she was arrested following an incident that occurred on a plane.

The Cruel Intentions actor was arrested once the Delta flight that she was on landed at JFK Airport in New York City. She has now been charged with two counts of second degree assault, and prosecutors have accused her of kicking a police officer in the head and kicking a nurse at a local hospital.

In footage from the court, Blair can be seen dressed in a white hoodie and appeared emotional as she stood beside her lawyer, Shawn Barnes, as he spoke to the judge.

"This is not who she is, this is not what she represents. It is a sole incident. It is not something that she has ever demonstrated ever," her lawyer argued.

Blair, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in August 2018, allegedly tried to open the aircraft door while the flight was mid-air, but her lawyer claimed that she had missed several doses of her medication before boarding the flight.

"Ms. Blair boarded this flight after being on set and working extensive hours and exhaustive hours in the days leading up to this flight," Barnes said. "Additionally, at one point, during the flight, there was an incident where Miss Blair actually fell and hit her head.

"These factors, coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation."

On Monday, it was reported that Blair was allegedly "punching and biting flight attendants" on board the flight. A spokesperson for US airline Delta told The Daily Mail: "Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behaviour, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first."

The actor was released on a £15,101 ($20,000) bond and is expected back in court on 19 January, 2027.

The judge also issued a protection order for the nurse Blair reportedly kicked. In the video footage from court, the judge can be heard telling her: "Do you further understand that you're to have no communication or no contact whatsoever with this individual?", to which Selma nodded her head and replied: "Yes, sir."

Kirsty is a freelance writer and editor specialising in all things entertainment. Over the past 16 years, she has worked on showbiz desks at various national newspaper websites in London, including Express.co.uk, The Sun, and MailOnline.

More recently, she spent three years living in New York City writing celebrity and lifestyle news for DailyMail.com, The Mirror US, and Daily Express US. Kirsty graduated from Southampton Solent with a BA in Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing. When she's not watching reruns of Sex and the City, you'll find her listening to David Bowie and daydreaming about an espresso martini.