Maria Town, a President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, slams the actress while recalling the time when she tried to confront Blair over the remark.
- Feb 15, 2024
AceShowbiz - Despite her apology, Selma Blair continued to get backlash over her Islamophobic comment. Maria Town, a President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, put the actress on blast in a scathing Instagram post in which she recalled trying to confront Blair over the remark.
"I have read Selma Blair's Islamophobic, racist, and hateful comments. Her comments are harmful and wrong," Town wrote in the post. "Since she is someone I have worked with, I wanted to speak to her and call her in before sharing my thoughts publicly. I reached out multiple times to her manager and to her to talk. I was finally able to speak with her today."
The Louisiana native went on saying, "The conversation did not go well. She first acted as though she did not know what I meant and asked what I was talking about when I shared I was alarmed by her recent posts."
"I referenced her posts, and directly repeated her words. I said, you can publicly disagree with people, including members of Congress, without being racist or wishing them harm," she continued. As how the phone call ended, Town revealed, "The conversation ended with her telling me, 'Maria, I wish you would think for yourself for once,' and she hung up on me."
Town added, "If she hadn't hung up, I would have told her that you can support Jewish people without being Islamophobic. In fact, you can support Jewish people and Muslim people at the same time." She concluded, "When people with high visibility and an ability to influence culture repeat Islamophobic and racist ideas, these systems become further cemented in our policy, in our society, in our minds."
Town's post arrived after Blair issued an apology for her offensive comment on Islam amid Hamas-Israel conflict. "I mistakenly and inadvertently conflated Muslims with Radical Islamists and fundamentalists, a terrible err in my words, and resulted in hurting countless people I never meant to, and I deeply regret this. As soon as my error was brought to my attention, I deleted the comment," the "Legally Blonde" actress wrote on Tuesday, February 13.
"Hate and misinformation are amplified so easily these days," she added. "This time by my own hands. In this instance, I erred in my writing and I fully recognize 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 and show me the way."
She concluded her lengthy statement, "I apologize to those in the Muslim community who I offended with my words. I apologize to my friends. And I apologize to anyone I hurt. And I will do better. With appreciation, love and respect. Selma."
In her controversial Instagram comment, the "Cruel Intentions" star showed support for anti-Arab immigration policies which were recently passed by Congress. "Deport all these terrorist supporting goons," Blair wrote. "Islam has destroyed Muslim countries and then they come here and destroyed minds. They know they are liars. Twisted justifications. May they meet their fate."
