OTTAWA: Pamela Anderson shared an unsettling flight experience where she was mistaken for a member of the country band, The Chicks.
Recounting the incident on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, she detailed how an angry passenger confronted her mid-flight.
The man accused her of not appreciating the country’s support, visibly angry and acting aggressively toward her.
Flight attendants intervened, restraining the man to his seat after he tried to attack the former “Baywatch” star.
Mistaken Identity Leads to Scare
Anderson later discovered the man believed she was a member of The Chicks, formerly known as The Dixie Chicks.
The confusion arose due to backlash the band faced after criticizing the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Lead singer Natalie Maines’s comments about President George W. Bush sparked fan boycotts and widespread outrage.
Country radio stations removed The Chicks’ music from playlists, amplifying the backlash against the group.
Pamela Anderson Reflects on the Incident
Anderson admitted the incident left her shaken and hesitant to fly for some time afterward.
She recalled thinking, “What have I done?” before realizing the man’s anger stemmed from mistaken identity.
Anderson shared the story during promotion for her new film, The Last Showgirl, with host Josh Horowitz.
Despite the distress, she humorously reflected on the misunderstanding, saying, “I almost got killed on a plane.”
The Legacy of The Chicks
The Chicks are among the most successful female and country bands, with 13 Grammys and numerous other awards.
They made headlines in 2003 when Maines expressed shame about Bush being from Texas and opposed the Iraq war.
The statement ignited a firestorm of controversy, reshaping the group’s career and public perception.
The incident highlights how a decade-old controversy inadvertently put Anderson in a frightening situation.