Jennifer Bassey, best known for her portrayal of Marian Colby on the ABC soap opera "All My Children," was kicked off a Delta Air Lines flight on Tuesday after a profanity-laced confrontation with a flight attendant, according to TMZ.
The 72-year-old actress described the incident as "undignified, embarrassing and beyond stressful." A spokesperson for Delta confirmed that Bassey was booted off the plane and the authorities were investigating the incident, which took place at JFK International Airport in New York, reported E!.
The confrontation took place when Bassey used the restroom after boarding her flight to Indianapolis. As she walked out of the lavatory, she said that a female flight attendant loudly asked, "Aren't you going to flush?" The attendant then continued to berate her, asking if she had washed her hands.
The actress said she told the attendant that she intended to use her own hand sanitizer instead and walked back to her seat. Because the plane was delayed, Bassey claimed she took out her laptop in order to prepare for an audition. She then realized that the flight attendant had followed her back to her seat.
"She stood there next to me waiting for me until I put [the laptop] away," said Bassey, according to E!.
Then she said that the flight attendant bumped her hand and started yelling, "Don't you touch me, don't you ever touch me." Bassey responded by mouthing the words: "Go f**k yourself."
Next, Bassey noticed the flight attendants huddling together. The plane then returned to the gate, where two police officers escorted her off the flight.
Bassey said Delta considered her to be a "risk to the carrier," and accused her of assaulting a flight attendant, an allegation she denied.
"It was all unfortunate, but I am a senior citizen who is petite and tiny. How could I assault someone?" said the actress. Bassey said she expects an apology from Delta and is considering legal action.
