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 man~~ ~~the myth~~ the legend:

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toy story

Houston Toy Museum will shutter in the Heights after 4 years

Luke Skywalker action figure Houston Toy Museum

Photos via Houston Toy Museum

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Childhood whimsy took a mortal blow this week as the Houston Toy Museum announced it would be closing its storefront on 19th Street at the end of August.

"The truth is, we fell in love with the idea of being in a space that already held so much history and nostalgia for so many," wrote founders Matt and Sara Broussard in an Instagram post on Wednesday, July 22. "So we dreamed big, took a leap, and in some ways bit off more than we could chew. Even so, we are deeply proud of what we have built and have no regrets!"

The couple cited rising rent prices as the primary reason for the closure. The Greater Houston Partnership reports that gross office rent prices in the second quarter of 2026 had jumped to $31/square foot, up from a $28/square foot a year ago. For a 4,932 square foot building like the Houston Toy Museum at 321 W. 19th, such increases can compound into an untenable amount.

The Broussards assured their fans and supporters that the Houston Toy Museum was not disappearing completely. They plan to continue hosting events around the city, including pop-ups and LEGO builds. Their Instagram post ended with a hopeful promise that they will find another storefront location sometime in the future.

When the Houston Toy Museum first opened in 2022, it quickly became a one-of-a-kind hub of pop culture in the city. Built from donated toys and the Broussards' large personal collection, it housed an impressive array of everything from century-old dolls to the immense G.I. Joe playset the U.S.S . Flagg (which is 7.5 feet long) to modern video game systems. The museum hosted film screenings, community talks, and more on the history and importance of play. It also sold a lot of toys in the gift shop.

All of those items are headed to storage, but the Broussards remained upbeat and thankful for the four years they were able to entertain and delight Houston.

"What started as a daydream became a space filled with joy, nostalgia, creativity, connection, and community," said the statement. "We watched families make memories here, saw people reconnect with pieces of their childhood, hosted incredible events, and felt an outpouring of support that we will never forget.We owe so much to you, our community. You showed up for us again and again, and we cannot thank you enough for believing in what we created. Heights residents, and beyond, you helped spread the word about our little museum. Many of you have been our biggest cheerleaders from day one and we are forever grateful for that."

museums houston toy museum closings the-heights