Selma Blair has been criticized by a disability advocate for her “hateful” Islamophobic post, who claimed the actress hung up the phone when he tried to confront her about it.
Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, took to Instagram to share her scathing comments.
He said he had clashed with the Legally Blonde star, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, in a conversation that “didn’t go well” despite them having previously worked together.
It comes after Blair, 51, was forced to issue an apology for leaving an Islamophobic comment on social media, stating that she “inadvertently confused Muslims with fundamentalists.”
Selma Blair has been criticized by a disability advocate for her “hateful” Islamophobic post, who claimed the actress hung up the phone when he tried to confront her about it.
Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, took to Instagram to share her scathing comments.
Maria, who previously worked as a senior associate director in the Obama White House Office of Public Engagement, shared a series of slides to divulge details of the apparent exchange.
She wrote: ‘I have read Selma Blair’s Islamophobic, racist and hateful comments. Her comments are harmful and wrong.
‘Since she is someone I have worked with, I wanted to talk to her and call her before sharing my thoughts publicly.
‘I contacted her and her manager several times to talk. I finally got to talk to her today.’
Maria, who is from Louisiana, continued: ‘The conversation didn’t go well.
‘At first he acted like he didn’t know what I was talking about and asked what I was talking about when I told him I was alarmed by his recent posts.
‘I referenced your posts and directly repeated your words. I said you can publicly disagree with people, including members of Congress, without being racist or wishing them harm.
‘The conversation ended when she said to me: “Maria, I would like you to think for yourself for once,” and she hung up on me.
Maria, who previously worked as a senior associate director in the Obama White House Office of Public Engagement, shared a series of slides to divulge details of the apparent exchange.
‘As he shared in the apology he recently posted, he told me he meant “Islamists” and not “Islam.”
‘I responded that this change did not make his comments any less Islamophobic or racist. The conversation evolved from there.
The post continued: “If he hadn’t hung up, I would have told him that you can support the Jewish people without being Islamophobic.”
‘In fact, you can support Jews and Muslims at the same time.
‘Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism have no place anywhere, especially within rights and justice movements or efforts for inclusion.
‘Racist and nationalist systems create a false choice: the idea that the presence of another group is a threat to one’s own security.
‘Using fear to justify further harm to people is no justification. Using fear for one’s safety to justify Islamophobia and racism does not make anyone safer or more protected. “It just creates more fear.”
But Maria had even more to say when she concluded: ‘When people with great visibility and ability to influence culture repeat Islamophobic and racist ideas, these systems become even more consolidated in our politics, in our society, in our minds.
María concluded: “When people with great visibility and ability to influence culture repeat Islamophobic and racist ideas, these systems become even more consolidated in our politics, in our society, in our minds.”
The February 2 comment called for the deportation of Democratic Representatives Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib, calling them “thugs who support terrorism” and stating that “Islam has destroyed Muslim countries.”
“When people like me, and by this I mean specifically white people who were raised or cultured within a Christian community, do not speak out against Islamophobia and the associated racism and hatred, because “we don’t know enough” or ” that is not our problem.” “We allow this hatred to perpetuate and grow.
“When people like me, those who are close to people like Selma Blair, do not express hate when we see it, whether in one-on-one conversations, public forums, etc., we perpetuate harm.
“Despite Selma’s assessment of me, I think for myself and know that her kind of hate is never acceptable.”
In the Feb. 2 post, the Cruel Intentions actress called for the deportation of Democratic Reps. Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib, who is Muslim, referring to them as “terrorist-supporting thugs.”
The comment, since deleted, read: ‘Deport all these thugs who support terrorism. Islam has destroyed the Muslim countries and then they come here and destroy the minds. They know they are liars. Twisted justifications. May they find their destiny.’
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, condemned the statement and called on him to apologize.
“Based on the hateful and ignorant comments Ms. Blair made, we doubt she ever had meaningful interactions with her Muslim colleagues in Hollywood or other members of the American Muslim community,” said Deputy National Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell.
“We encourage Ms. Blair to apologize and also invite her to engage in dialogue with our community.”
Earlier this week, Blair returned to social media to post a lengthy apology following widespread backlash.
He ended the apology by reaffirming his support for marginalized communities and promising to “do better.”
Earlier this week, Blair returned to social media to post a lengthy apology.
“This is a time of great pain and distress for many people around the world, but it is also a time to learn and better understand the importance of words,” he wrote.
Blair said he had commented on a post “about two members of Congress who are against banning the October 7 Hamas terrorists from entering the United States.”
The original post criticized Bush and Tlaib for voting present on the ‘Hamas Terrorist Immigration Benefits Ban Act,’ which would prevent foreign nationals who participated in or facilitated the October 7 Hamas attacks from seeking aid related to immigration to the United States.
“In my comment, I wrongly and inadvertently confused Muslims with radical Islamists and fundamentalists, a terrible mistake in my words, and it resulted in hurting countless people that I never intended to do, and I deeply regret it,” Blair continued, adding that he quickly deleted the comment.
‘I was wrong to write and I fully acknowledge how I contributed to the Muslim community being understandably very upset. I respect and love all peace-loving communities, all over the world.
‘It was my Muslim friends who helped educate me and show me the way. I am committed to repaying your love and understanding. We cannot allow ignorance and anger to become (sic) our downfall.’
Blair ended the apology by reaffirming his support for marginalized communities and promising to “do better.”