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Deaf actor Troy Kotsur was allegedly involved in a ‘drunken mid-air altercation’ after boarding a flight from London to Los Angeles without his sign-language translator.
The 53-year-old CODA star, who won a BAFTA earlier this month, appeared to have an ‘increasingly heated discussion with his wife’ Deanne Bray, 50, after having ‘sunk about 10 small bottles of vodka’ during the American Airlines flight.
Kotsur’s rep insisted that the incident in February was just a ‘major misunderstanding’ after the actor and his wife missed the flight which caused them to fly with no interpreter.
Someone on board the flight revealed that Kotsur and wife Deanne were communicating when it ‘suddenly all kicked off, and he was gesticulating wildly as bits of food and cutlery were flying around’.
The latest: A rep for CODA star Troy Kotsur, 53, denied the actor was involved in what was described as ‘a drunken mid-air altercation’ during an American Airlines flight from London to Los Angeles in February, chalking it up to a ‘misunderstanding.’ He was snapped earlier this month in London
The 53-year-old CODA star, who won a BAFTA earlier this month, appeared to have an ‘increasingly heated discussion with his wife’ Deanne Bray, 50, after having ‘sunk about 10 small bottles of vodka’ during the American Airlines flight
They told The Sun that the deaf actor, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscar’s this weekend as Frank Rossi in the film CODA, allegedly knocked a fork while gesticulating which struck a nearby passenger, who ‘burst into tears’ after being hit.
As things got heated, the cabin crew, who struggled to communicate with Kotsur as they were unable to use sign language, had to write a note to say police would escort him off the flight once grounded.
Kotsur’s rep told Dailymail.com that ‘ASL is an entire language, not “gesticulation,”‘ and that ‘it is a completely visual language that is communicated through expressive, physical movement of the hands, arms, and facial expressions.
They confirmed that the actor ‘and his wife missed a flight, which caused them to fly without an interpreter,’ which ‘lead to a misunderstanding which was immediately cleared up when someone was contacted to interpret upon landing.’
‘In 2022, no airline attendant will serve a passenger 10 vodkas, nor any number of drinks even close to that amount,’ the rep continued.
Kotsur’s rep insisted that the incident in February was just a ‘major misunderstanding’ after the actor and his wife missed the flight which caused them to fly with no interpreter. Pictured, Kotsur and Bray at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards at Barker Hangar in February
‘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.’
Kotsur’s rep told Dailymail.com that ‘airlines as a whole, generally do not have sign language support for Deaf passengers.’
A rep for the actor told The U.K. Sun that ‘once there was someone able to interpret over FaceTime, everyone shook hands and walked away.’
Kotsur ‘is a nervous flier anyway, and was stressed because he didn’t have his translator with him,’ his rep told the outlet. Kotsur ‘was signing expansively which can be uncomfortable for hearing people,’ and ‘obviously, it was a complete accident anyone got hit,’ as ‘his elbow knocked something off his tray.’
Kotsur has had a successful run this award season with wins for best supporting actor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the British Academy Film Awards and the Critics’ Choice Movies Awards for his performance in Apple TV+’s CODA. He was snapped in London earlier this month
Kotsur has had a successful run this award season with wins for best supporting actor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the British Academy Film Awards and the Critics’ Choice Movies Awards for his performance in Apple TV+’s CODA.
In an interview with NBC News published Tuesday, the actor opened up on the possibility he could become the first Deaf man to win an Oscar for acting. (His CODA co-star Marlee Matlin won the Best Actress Oscar in 1987 for Children of a Lesser God.)
‘If that happens, I would be thrilled,’ Kotsur said through an American Sign Language interpreter.
‘But it’s really important for young Deaf kids out there to feel inspired and have hope, not only as actors but directors, writers, producers, in front of or behind the camera. I don’t want them to feel limited.
Acclaimed performance: Troy plays Frank in the critically lauded movie CODA, and has gathered a string of nominations for his role
‘With the technology that we have these days, life is getting better for Deaf people. Like how we’re communicating right now, with an interpreter … it’s been an amazing transformation for Deaf people. I feel like I’m Generation X and I’m ready to pass it on to the next generation.’
CODA is an English-language remake of the French feature La Famille Belier, which was released in 2014.
The movie is centered on the only hearing member of a deaf family who attempts to balance her concern for her family’s well-being with her personal aspirations.
In addition to Kotsur, the movie stars performers such as Marlee Matlin, Eugenio Derbez and Daniel Durant, among others.
CODA premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, and it was later given a wide release on theaters and on the Apple TV+ streaming service.
Another win: The actor is pictured accepting the award for best supporting male for “CODA” at the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards
Source: dailymail
