By Wonderwall.com Editors
9:00pm PDT, Jun 2, 2023
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The not-so-friendly skies! Though flying on a plane is the safest method of travel, it isn't always the most peaceful thanks to certain celebrities' behavior. Take a look at some of the stars who've managed to get themselves thrown off planes or who've inspired some serious airport drama…
"General Hospital" star Tyler Christopher was arrested after allegedly passing out drunk in a Southern California airport terminal on May 26, 2023. According to TMZ, the soap star was found sleeping on the ground near the American Airlines terminal at the Burbank airport, and officers quickly suspected the nap was alcohol-related. After officers woke Tyler up, he said he missed his flight. Police, though, said the actor displayed clear signs of intoxication and wasn't able to care for himself. He was arrested for public intoxication.
Keep reading for more celebrity airport and airplane drama…
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Reality TV star Savannah Chrisley took to her Instagram Stories on April 20, 2023, to claim that a Southwest Airlines employee threw her off a flight when she attempted to board a plane at New York's LaGuardia Airport as she was heading home to Tennessee because she refused to check her carry-on bag after being instructed to — then argued with him about it. "Alright guys, so I officially know why everyone hates Southwest so much," she said, calling a male staffer "awful." According to Savannah, "I went to board my flight and he told me that I had to check my bag. I was like, 'OK, if you wouldn't mind, I'm gonna take my bag on the flight, see if I can't make it fit and if not, I'll check it.'" She said the employee told her that wasn't an option and when she insisted she'd check her bag after first seeing if there was room for her luggage on the plane, he told her she was being "an unruly passenger." She claimed the pilot then stepped in, said he'd find space for her bag and told the attendant he needed to "calm down," after which the "the Southwest attendant literally looked at the pilot — the man who was flying our plane and is responsible for our safety — and said stay out of it," Savannah alleged, adding that she then told the attendant there was "no need for him to be an a****** today and then he threw me off the flight." However, after all the drama subsided, she was put on a connecting flight through Baltimore and made it home.
A rep for Southwest, however, didn't exactly confirm Savannah's account, telling People magazine in a statement that the company was "looking into the situation" though had discovered that "our initial reports indicate a different story than the one from the Customer's account, as she arrived at the gate late in the boarding process and repeatedly insulted our Employee after being asked to gate-check her bag," the rep said. "As a result, the Customer was denied boarding on her original flight, and we booked her on a later flight the same day."
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Mike Epps was detained by federal agents at the Indianapolis International Airport on March 5, 2023, after a loaded gun was found in his carry-on luggage. The comedian told officials he forgot that the weapon was in his bag. Mike was not arrested but county officials were looking into possible charges. Following the incident, Mike recorded an Instagram video to explain the situation. "Now if you wanna know why I carry a gun — I carry money all the time. I be having jewelry on and these dudes is out here robbing people," he said. "I ain't doing nothing wrong, but I keep a gun on me because I gotta protect myself. Sometimes I ain't with my security." The "Next Friday" star said he's still a "positive" guy but added, "All I can tell you is the world is crazy. Stay strapped."
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"Harry Potter" franchise star Matthew Lewis publicly slammed Air Canada on social media after claiming it "ripped up" his first class ticket on a flight from Orlando to Toronto. Putting things in perspective, Matthew agreed it's a "privileged problem." The actor, best known as Neville Longbottom in the "Potter" franchise, says he was bumped from his initial flight because it was full. Then the airline rebooked his flight and made him fly less comfortably, despite paying the higher price for a first class ticket. "I've been bumped before. I think it's a ludicrous policy that we've inexplicably normalised but it is what it is. That said, that's not my issue. I wasn't told til boarding, no apology, no ask if like to rebook, and if want a refund I have to call them," he tweeted. "No email. No offer to rebook. Literally tore my first class ticket up in front of me at the gate, gave me economy ticket and walked away. Not a single word…privileged problems? sure. But still wild." The following day, Matthew said his issue was still not resolved.
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Former boxing champion Mike Tyson threw a flurry of punches at a fellow airline passenger while aboard a Florida-bound flight on April 20, 2022. Mike's inner circle told TMZ that the man was extremely intoxicated and "wouldn't stop provoking the boxer in his seat." The website reported that Mike was initially friendly with fellow passengers on the San Francisco-to-Florida plane, which had yet to take off. However, a man sitting directly behind the former heavyweight champ kept trying to talk to Mike, who grew more and more agitated. Mike told the man to calm down. "When the guy didn't, that's when the witness says [Mike] started to throw several punches at the man's face," TMZ explained. The man was bloodied and is said to have received medical care. He also reported the incident to police. A witness said Mike walked off the plane seconds after the altercation occurred.
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On April 20, 2022, A$AP Rocky was arrested at LAX Airport in Los Angeles in connection with a November 2021 shooting in which the victim claimed Rocky approached him on the street with a handgun and fired three to four times. A bullet allegedly grazed the victim's left hand. The rapper's airport arrest followed a visit to Barbados with his pregnant girlfriend, Rihanna. NBC News reported that Rocky was met by police at the terminal and was taken away in handcuffs.
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Former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model Olivia Culpo was asked to "put a blouse on" before being allowed to board an American Airlines flight to Mexico on Jan. 13, 2022. The influencer's sister, Aurora Culpo, documented the drama on social media, posting a video of Olivia in black biker shorts, a black bralette and a long black coverup (see the outfit next). "She looks cute. She looks appropriate. No. They call her up to the desk and tell her that she needs to put a blouse on otherwise she can't get on the plane," her sister said. Olivia, who was Miss Universe 2012, borrowed boyfriend Christian McCaffrey's sweatshirt so that she could board. Aurora continued to troll American, sharing images from a website that sold Olivia's too-sexy-for-air-travel outfit. "Get kicked off @americanair starter kit," Aurora captioned the post.
Keep reading to see Olivia's outfit…
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Here's a still from the video that Aurora Culpo shared on Instagram on Jan. 13, 2022, showing what sister Olivia Culpo was wearing — black biker shorts, a black bralette and a long black coverup — that an American Airlines employee deemed inappropriate.
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Coat versus COVID. In December 2021, Denise Richards posted a photo that showed her unmasked while aboard an airplane. She theorized (without scientific evidence) that her winter coat was bigger and better than a face mask. "Anyone that is upset that I [am] not wearing a mask. I'm hiding under a hoody [and] a huge winter coat. Please," she wrote alongside the image. She justified her post by arguing that her coat is "thicker than any mask!!!!!!" Fans shredded her online for eschewing federal health and safety COVID guidelines. Denise was called "stupid" and "narcissistic," among many other things. Anti-maskers applauded her, feeling like she was one of their own. However, a few days later, her inner circle said Denise regretted the post. "In reality, she wore her mask the entire time except when she was taking sips of water," a source told Page Six. "She believes in masks, and she really does follow the rules." Another friend said the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum is "not one of those people who is anti-masks." The second source added, "The way she handled it was strange, posting the photo. She's ready to admit she was an idiot to post the photo."
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Former "Saturday Night Live" star Chris Kattan was asked leave a Dallas/Fort Worth-to-Los Angeles flight in June 2021 after he showed signs of illness. TMZ reported that the comedian was stumbling in the first class cabin and had mucus hanging out of his nose — initially, he wasn't wearing a mask despite CDC guidelines for air travel amid the coronavirus pandemic, TMZ was told, though later put one on. His appearance unsettled the flight crew and other passengers. Chris allegedly "begged" the crew to let him stay and even asked if they'd recognized him from TV, but he was eventually ordered to leave the plane, which he did, albeit begrudgingly. His attorney told TMZ Chris, who's fully vaccinated, "unequivocally supports CDC guidelines" and during the incident had "suffered a strong allergic reaction to supplements he has been taking to treat lingering neck pain from his injury on 'SNL.' This reaction affected his balance and psychological state. The effects also caused him to have trouble breathing." He caught the next plane home.
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Kim Zolciak-Biermann's family claimed they were kicked off a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta because of crying children. The "Don't Be Tardy" star's daughter Brielle Biermann first described the alleged incident on Twitter, claiming her younger siblings were crying, prompting an airline employee to remove them from the flight. The since-deleted tweet said, "[An employee] at gate 27 delta LAX just kicked my WHOLE FAMILY OFF the flight to ATL bc we were waiting on my dad with our service dog to finish going thru security & kJ & kash started crying bc they thought we left him and Kaia was literally S******* AND HE KICKED US OFF!!!!" She continued, "He was grabbing my siblings and escorting them off HIMSELF while my moms in the bathroom with Kaia!!!!!! I have never dealt with anything like this in my life." Kim claimed the police were investigating. Her Twitter followers didn't offer much sympathy, though, instead blasting the family for claiming their pet was a "service dog."
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"21 Jump Street" star Richard Grieco was arrested for public intoxication after, police said, he drunkenly tried to board an airplane in Dallas in December 2019. The actor arrived at his gate and was denied boarding. The "Booker" alum was allegedly "hunched over the counter, yelling at employees and slurring his speech … he also reeked of booze," TMZ reported. While being arrested, he told police he had a few vodka drinks before the flight.
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"The Flash" star Grant Gustin triggered the smoke alarm on an airplane after allegedly vaping in a bathroom. In March 2019, the actor was flying from from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Minutes into the flight, he allegedly made a beeline for the front laboratory and started puffing away. The smoke from the vape pen was reportedly so intense that the captain and co-pilot were forced to wear oxygen masks. The Compass Airlines plane was not diverted, but authorities met Grant after the flight landed in Canada. The actor was cooperative and was let off with a warning.
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Aubrey O'Day claimed an American Airlines employee made her undress in front of an airplane full of passengers on Sept. 26, 2019, but there are witnesses saying that's not the whole truth. The reality TV star alleged that the flight attendant didn't like her shirt so he asked her to either change it or turn it inside out. She did the latter, taking her shirt off on the spot, temporarily exposing her bra. She was livid. However, witnesses told TMZ the flight attendant told her she was welcome to change in the restroom, but Aubrey declined, choosing to turn her shirt around in the middle of the plane. She then blasted the airline on Twitter. "Never have I flown & had the steward treat me like a punished lil child in timeout the entire flight.. including making me undress in front of the entire plane because he didn't like my shirt & made me turn inside out in order to fly," she wrote. Making no mention of the apparent offer to change privately in a restroom, she later added, "I literally had to have my breasts in a bra out in front of everyone around me in order to not get kicked off. The girl next to me held up her blanket cuz she felt bad." The shirt, by the way, allegedly featured a four-letter curse word in giant bold letters.
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Bobby Brown was removed from a JetBlue flight on Sept. 9, 2019, after he allegedly got into an altercation in first class. The situation led to the airline ordering all passengers off the plane. However, upon exiting, Bobby was reportedly held in the jetway until police got there. Some witnesses said Bobby did nothing wrong. "Although he admitted to drinking before boarding, he was not being difficult and did not make a fuss when he was told he couldn't have a drink," TMZ said. The flight eventually took off an hour later, sans Bobby.
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Bam Margera was kicked off an airplane in Atlanta on Aug. 3, 2019. After getting booted, he berated an airline employee. Why exactly Bam was booted from the flight isn't entirely clear, but it seemed to involve alcohol consumption.
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Country singer Gretchen Wilson was arrested on Aug. 21, 2018, after an alleged incident aboard a commercial airliner during a flight from New York to Connecticut. TMZ claimed the Grammy winning singer got into a shoving match with another passenger over the airplane's restroom. Police told the Associated Press that the "Redneck Woman" singer "became belligerent toward the troopers and caused a disturbance." She was arrested for breach of peace, but those charges were eventually dropped. Throughout it all, the singer denied anything happened. "Actually there was no incident on an airplane. None at all. There was some words between the state police and myself … that's where all of that came from," she told Taste of Country.
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On Oct. 15, 2018, a Delta pilot booted Tara Reid and her small dog from a flight traveling from Los Angeles to New York City following what the airline called an onboard "disturbance." According to TMZ, the "Sharknado" star "flew into a rage" right before takeoff because she thought she'd been given the wrong seat (she was also loudly complaining because she wasn't given a pillow). The captain taxied back to the gate and Tara followed orders to get off before catching another flight.
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Playmates ain't playing! Kendra Wilkinson almost came to blows with another passenger while aboard a Las Vegas-to-Los Angeles flight in January 2017. Reports said Kendra and another woman were having shots of tequila on their flight, and another woman took exception to them being loud. "I almost got into a fight with a girl on the plane," the reality TV star admitted to TMZ after landing. "We were a little drunk." She added, "[The accuser] didn't say anything the whole flight home, but oh, she wants to say something on our way off the plane. [She said,] 'You know, you guys were a little loud,' and then she runs off."
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"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kandi Burruss was kicked off a Hawaiian Airlines plane in September 2016, but in this instance, the ouster might not have been warranted. The reality star took to Instagram to share her story, writing, "#HawaiianAirlines just kicked us off for no reason. This was so crazy & random! We were sitting in our seat & the gate ticketer came on & asked to see my ticket because it wasn't showing up in their system. I gave him my ticket but it had our baggage claim checks on the back. He never brought it back & the plane started rolling off. I asked the flight attendant where was my ticket & told him I needed the baggage claim ticket just in case my bags didn't make the flight. Then the next thing I know this lady comes on the plane & said she needed Todd & I to get off the plane because we caused some sort of commotion … Really???? I barely said a word to that flight attendant. Everybody sitting around us was like what are they talking about! This s*** is crazy." The airline gave somewhat of an apology but also claimed that someone in Kandi's party had asked to get off the plane. Guess this one will forever remain a mystery!
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Kate Moss caused a scene on an EasyJet flight back in 2015. The supermodel was denied alcohol by flight attendants, which resulted in a tantrum that got her swiftly escorted off the aircraft.
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Jonathan Rhys Meyers had some plane drama in 2010. The actor got drunk in a New York airport's first class lounge and reportedly acted belligerent and disruptive when it came time to board, so staff denied him entry. That just escalated the situation, and after things got physical, Jonathan was permanently banned from flying on United Airlines. But that wasn't his only plane drama: In July 2018, he was detained after drinking, yelling at his wife, allegedly trying to vape and intimidating fellow passengers on a Miami-to-Los Angeles flight. He later apologized and sought treatment.
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It doesn't have to be a physical altercation that gets you kicked off of a plane. Back in 2003, Courtney Love was taken off of a flight from London's Heathrow Airport after she got into a verbal altercation. The catalyst for the rocker's bad behavior? Courtney allegedly refused to buckle her seatbelt.
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Some British Airways passengers got a taste of Naomi Campbell's well-documented wrath back in 2008 when the supermodel became livid after she found out her luggage wasn't on her flight. Police got involved when she refused to get off of the plane. They didn't fare any better — Naomi allegedly spit and kicked at the officers as she was dragged off the aircraft.
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Back in 1994, Christian Slater attempted to travel with an unlicensed gun in his luggage. The major mistake got him arrested and netted him three days of community service.
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In a tale that screams 2011, Alec Baldwin got aggravated on a flight from New York City to Los Angeles after flight attendants asked him to stop playing the Scrabble-like mobile game "Words With Friends" during takeoff. The request set off the volatile actor, who sent off a string of angry tweets about the incident. He was subsequently kicked off the airplane.
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What happens in Vegas… sometimes has to stay in Vegas. "Vanderpump Rules" star James Kennedy wasn't allowed to board a June 2016 Southwest flight to Los Angeles when he was deemed too drunk to fly after getting into a loud argument with co-star Lala Kent in the terminal.
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In June 2016, paramedics removed Selma Blair from a plane on a stretcher after she had an in-flight outburst thought to be triggered by a combination of alcohol and prescription medication. The actress was traveling from Cancun, Mexico, to Los Angeles with her then-4-year-old son when she started crying and talking about being scared of an unnamed man. Paramedics were called to help handle the actress when her flight landed.
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Coolio was sentenced to probation in October 2016 after bringing a concealed firearm to Los Angeles International Airport a month prior. The late rapper was arrested when a security screener found a loaded handgun in his bag. He was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and 45 days of community service.
Blac Chyna was arrested at an airport in Austin, Texas, in January 2016 after she got into an argument with a flight attendant. The reality star, who was allegedly drunk at the time of the altercation, was taken into custody, where police found ecstasy in her bag. Her then-new beau Rob Kardashian memorably drove from Los Angeles to Texas to bail her out of jail.
It seems like being too intoxicated to board a flight is a theme in Hollywood. Back in 2006, David Hasselhoff was denied entry onto a British Airways flight departing from London's Heathrow Airport for being too drunk… at 7 a.m.
Back in 2007, Fergie was attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight with her Black Eyed Peas bandmates when the amount she had to drink became a problem. The singer was allegedly too drunk to walk properly and when she was told she wouldn't be boarding the plane, she started yelling at airline employees.
Fergie's ex-hubby, Josh Duhamel, has also run into some airplane trouble. In 2010, the actor refused to turn off his BlackBerry before takeoff despite flight attendants' numerous requests. He went right on texting and was ultimately removed from the plane.
In 2013, Amanda Bynes was blocked from boarding a private jet to Los Angeles when she failed to produce government-issued identification. Instead, she allegedly told the pilot to Google her. Apparently the pilot didn't consider a search engine a valid form of identification, leaving the trouble-prone actress grounded.
In July 2016, Lamar Odom was removed from a New York City-bound plane in Los Angeles for being intoxicated and vomiting. The former basketball star reportedly boarded the flight drunk and threw up in the aircraft's galley and restroom before he was asked to leave. But that wasn't the end of it: Lamar attempted to re-board the plane only to be escorted off a second time.
British Airways doesn't have the best track record with unruly celebs! Back in 2015, Paris Hilton's younger brother Conrad Hilton allegedly threatened British Airways flight attendants. In addition to verbally abusing the crew, he also reportedly called his fellow passengers "peasants." Since the plane was already airborne, the flight crew had to restrain Conrad in his seat until law enforcement could greet him upon landing.
Back in 2010, Kevin Smith was asked to leave a Southwest Airlines plane traveling in California from Oakland to Burbank because his weight and size were a "safety concern." The comedian live-tweeted the whole ordeal, writing "I'm way fat … But I'm not THERE just yet. But if I am, why wait til my bag is up, and I'm seated WITH ARM RESTS DOWN. In front of a packed plane with a bunch of folks who'd already I.d.ed me as 'Silent Bob.'" Southwest eventually apologized for the removal and offered him a $100 voucher, which Kevin promptly rejected. Eight years later, he lost 51 pounds after suffering a heart attack.
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight for wearing his pants too low on his hips in 2011. He tweeted about the incident, writing, "Just got kicked off a southwest flight because my pants sagged too low!" Coincidentally, Billie Joe's flight was also from Oakland to Burbank.
The late Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan was removed from an Aer Lingus flight from New York to Shannon Airport in Ireland after allegedly assaulting a crew member in November 2014. She was arrested at the airport and reportedly head-butted the arresting officer. Sadly, Dolores died from accidental drowning due to alcohol intoxication in 2018.
In August 2011, French actor Gerard Depardieu was stuck on a delayed flight from Paris to Dublin when he decided to relieve himself in his seat — after flight attendants refused to let him go to the bathroom. He attempted to pee into a bottle but some urine got on the floor, leading to his removal from the plane.
