Pamela Anderson recently opened up about a frightening incident she experienced aboard a flight, where she was confronted by an irate passenger who mistook her for a member of the country music band The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks.
While promoting her new film, The Last Showgirl, on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Anderson shared the unsettling story with host Josh Horowitz. She recalled the moment a fellow passenger angrily approached her mid-flight, shouting, “Do you know what this country’s done for you?”
Caught off guard, Anderson was unsure how to respond. “I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, what did I do?’” she said. The situation quickly escalated as the man’s anger grew more intense. Flight attendants had to intervene, ultimately restraining him with handcuffs to prevent an attack.
The confusion stemmed from the man believing Anderson was a member of The Chicks, a band that faced widespread backlash in 2003 after lead singer Natalie Maines publicly criticized the U.S. invasion of Iraq during a concert. The controversy led to boycotts, with country radio stations removing the band’s music from their playlists.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Anderson admitted, “I was terrified. I almost got killed on a plane because of mistaken identity. It made me scared to fly for a while.”
The Chicks, one of the most successful female country bands in history, have won 13 Grammys and remain influential despite their controversial stance. Anderson’s story sheds light on the lingering intensity of public reactions to political statements, even years later.