Hero of the Week: Selma Blair Walks Oscar Red Carpet with Cane, Advocates MS and Disability Awareness
Welcome to Hero of the Week, where each week we celebrate the most extraordinary stories of heroism from all over the world. From putting another life before their own to making someone else’s dreams come true, these are ordinary people who are making the world a better place.
Although a quiet Hollywood presence in the last few years, Selma Blair nonetheless made an epic comeback this Oscars weekend. But not for winning a long-coveted award or for delivering a moving speech, but rather for the sheer courage of walking down the red carpet. With a cane, sometimes tearful, struggling, but with her head held high, while in the thick of an MS flareup.
This was the Cruel Intentions star's first red carpet appearance since revealing she has multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic neurological disorder that affects around 1 million Americans. It's characterized by loss of balance, vision and muscle control, severe pain, chronic fatigue, weakness, numbness among many other symptoms. There is no cure.
For most patients symptoms ebb and flow over time. During a flareup, called an exacerbation, a patient's existing symptoms become more severe and new ones appear. For Blair, her current exacerbation brought a worsening of her chronic pain, difficulty controlling her movements, weakness, fatigue and new ones like spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder that interferes with voice muscle control, making speech difficult.
In an Instagram post full of raw emotion Blair revealed how frightening it was to face such a public event, not knowing if she was going to be able to walk down the red carpet, let alone make it through the night without losing control over her body. But it's not just the physical aspect that was and is scary. It's about showing so much vulnerability.
But as discussed in a recent Good Morning America interview and Vanity Fair shoot, she realized how important it was to use her platform not only to bring awareness to the disease itself, but also what exactly it looks like. That it means she falls down often, that she cannot dress by herself. And right now even the simple act of speaking is beyond difficult.
And as a result of her courage, her platform has exploded overnight. The honesty of her struggle, her strength to find the good moments, the belief that there will come better, easier times and the ability to joke about what her day-to-day life is right now resulted in an outpouring of love, support and respect.
People from all walks of life have taken over her Instagram feed thanking her for arguing for more clothing choices for people with disabilities, for speaking so loudly for those who suffer and their right to care, happiness and employment. For bravely using a cane, an essential tool for many, but which so often elicits pity and disgusts from those blessed with health.
Since quietly revealing her diagnosis in October, in an Instagram post detailing her gratitude for friends and colleagues helping her through her disease and its current exacerbation, Blair has used the social media platform to document what MS means to her life. From the physical symptoms to the psychological ones, the Another Life star is disarmingly honest about it all.
But also about the peace the diagnosis -- received just last August -- brought to her life. Because finally there is a name to why she's been suffering. Finally, doctors don't dismiss it as "just" stress or an actress' drama. And also her faith and her belief in her own strength that while MS has irrevocably changed her life, it does not define her or her quest to be a caring mother, a good friend, a reliable worker, and why not, a funny entertainer.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.