Pamela Anderson‘s fear of flying stems from a harrowing incident where a man, enraged by the political stance of the band The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks), mistook her for one of the members and tried to attack her mid-flight.
This occurred in the aftermath of lead singer Natalie Maines' 2003 criticism of President George W. Bush and the Iraq War, which sparked a wave of backlash against the band.
The man, believing Anderson to be a member of The Chicks, confronted her aggressively, leading to a flight attendant having to handcuff him to his seat. Although Anderson has described the incident as “minor,” it left a lasting impact, making her apprehensive about flying for a period afterward.
This incident highlights the intense polarization and sometimes volatile reactions that can arise around political discourse, especially when it intersects with celebrity. It also underscores the potential for mistaken identity to have serious consequences, particularly in confined spaces like airplanes.
English (US) ·