Pulling a Slater

Update: How to help the JetBlue flight attendant: This escape chute rebeldeserves a break

Slater was charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
Photo by Theodorakis/News
Photo via Myspace

The Washington Post stole my headline. (Or, maybe great minds like mine and Jonathan Capehart's just think alike).

When I heard that JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater took to his airplane's PA system to announce: "To the fucking asshole who told me to fuck off, it's been a good 28 years ... I've had it. That's it,” grabbed a couple of roadies and SLID off the plane via the inflatable emergency slide, I said the man deserved a slow clap.

Unfortunately for him, and for those, like me, for whom he has become a personal hero, he's facing seven years for his antics on the Pittsburgh to JFK flight. Slater was reacting to a passenger who he warned to take a seat after the passenger started digging around the overhead bin just after landing. The passenger opted instead to direct an expletive at Slater and refused to apologize. This all after the passenger allegedly struck him before takeoff with the overhead compartment door. (There have been contradictory reports about the passenger's gender. Either way, it's an asshole).

Slater was arrested when he got home to Queens (he ran across the tarmac, hopped in his car and drove there) on charges of reckless endangerment, trespassing and criminal mischief. Our real-life Peter Gibbons has been granted bail (but hasn't posted the $2,500 needed to get out yet) and although we doubt he's welcome back at JetBlue, we see an illustrious career ahead of him as a self-help guru.

Whether the justice system will be merciful remains to be seen, but Slater's certainly got public opinion on his side. He's already a public figure on Facebook with just under 20,000 fans (and counting), a Wikipedia page and a T-shirt.

We're actually amazed we can't find somewhere online to donate to his legal defense fund. Slater's got a court-appointed lawyer and can't seem to afford bail. So here's the official call: Make checks out to "Save Slater" and send 'em to Howard Turman, Legal Aid Society, 120-46 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11415-1204.

Update: An unofficial donation page has been created. The founder contacted CultureMap and said he's working to get an official endorsement from Slater (whom he doesn't know personally) and his lawyer. Donations are via PayPal at your own risk!

Meet ~~the manthe myth~~ the legend:

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School