Deaf actor Troy Kotsur drunkenly argues with wife on LA flight after downing 10 bottles of vodka
Oscar-nominated deaf actor Troy Kotsur allegedly got into an "in-flight altercation" after boarding a flight from London to Los Angeles without his sign language translator. After drinking 10 small bottles of vodka during the American Airlines flight, the 53-year-old actor, who won a BAFTA earlier this month, reportedly had an 'increasingly heated discussion' with his wife Deanne Bray, 50.
As things heated up, the cabin crew, who were unable to communicate with Kotsur due to the lack of sign language, allegedly had to write a note stating that police would escort him off the flight once it landed. However, a source close to the actor told The Sun on March 22, Tuesday, that he was "stressed" after missing an earlier plane on which his sign translator was traveling, and that it was all a "misunderstanding."
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"He had sunk about ten small bottles of vodka and appeared to be having an increasingly heated discussion in sign language with his wife,” a passenger sitting near Troy and his wife shared with the publication. The deaf actor, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars for his role as Frank Rossi in CODA, allegedly knocked a fork while gesturing, striking a nearby passenger, who 'burst into tears' after being hit. "Suddenly, it all kicked off, and he was gesticulating wildly as bits of food and cutlery were flying around," the passenger continued. The cabin crew then allegedly "refused to serve" Kotsur more alcohol and struggled to communicate with him before writing the note.
A spokeswoman for Kotsur informed The Sun, “It was a major misunderstanding. Once there was someone able to interpret over FaceTime, everyone shook hands and walked away.” He also stated that Kotsur 'is a nervous flier in general’, and was stressed because he didn't have his translator with him.
Kotsur's representative also disputed the claim that the actor was served ten bottles of vodka. "In 2022, no airline attendant will serve a passenger ten vodkas, nor any number of drinks even close to that amount," the rep told the Daily Mail. "Other than Troy and his wife, there was no other person on that plane that spoke ASL. It is not uncommon when speaking in ASL during meals in small quarters, for cups, food, or silverware to be accidentally hit or knocked over."
