Natasha Lyonne had a troubled past before being removed from a Delta Airlines flight for being in a “bad mood.”
The “American Pie” actress has struggled with drugs and alcohol over the years, and has even been arrested for drunk driving.
Let’s take a look at Rion’s checkered past.
harsh childhood
Leon had a difficult upbringing.
When she was eight years old, her father, Aaron Brownstein, moved the family to Israel, where “his dream was to bring Mike Tyson to the Tel Aviv Hilton and become Israel’s Don King,” she previously told Rolling Stone.
Ms. Brownstein created a “tough-guy mentality” in her unstable family, and Ms. Lyon grew up with a tomboyish attitude, thinking it would endear her to her distant parents.
Lyon said she didn’t have many female friends and now says, “The hyperarousal I was experiencing was due to being in a dangerous home as a child.
“I was just developing a high emotional IQ about the human condition, for better or worse,” she told the outlet in 2020.
After the “Scary Movie 2” star’s parents divorced, she moved back to New York with her mother, Yvette Brownstein.
Lyon was kicked out of the Upper East Side yeshiva school where he received a scholarship for selling marijuana.
legal issues
In 2001, Lyonne was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Miami and infamously told police, “I’m a movie star. Can I talk to a celebrity lawyer?”
A year after her arrest, she pleaded guilty to drunk driving and was fined $1,000.
In 2005, Lyon was admitted to Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, New York, under a false name, suffering from hepatitis C, infective endocarditis, and a collapsed lung.
She stayed there for five months and was given methadone, a drug used to treat heroin addiction.
A warrant for Lyon’s arrest was issued in January 2006 after he failed to attend a court hearing regarding a previous legal matter. Her lawyer claimed the actress had a medical emergency, but did not provide details.
Later that year, Lyon was admitted to a drug and alcohol treatment center. The Orange Is the New Black star then appeared in court, where a judge granted him a conditional discharge.
eviction
In 2005, Lyonne was evicted from her New York apartment in a building owned by actor Michael Rapaport, who later wrote a scathing account of the actress’s lease.
The comedian wrote in the May 2005 issue of Jane magazine that his bedroom felt like “a grenade going off.”
“There was trash everywhere: scripts, contracts, Hustler magazine pages, photos, letters, and things I can’t even mention,” Rapaport wrote.
“There was broken glass in the kitchen, water in the clogged bathtub, and flies flying all over it. The plumber looked at the condition of the bathroom and said he’d never seen anything this bad before. Hell, New York City plumber, it was that bad,” he added.
Rappaport claimed he spent $16,000 repairing damage Lyon caused, including ripping out the ceiling to repair pipes.
“I know that girl needs help, and I tried to help her. Many of her friends helped,” he wrote. “But she fucked me. She can kiss my ass.”
recurrence
In January 2026, Rion revealed that he had relapsed after nearly 10 years of sobriety.
“I was going to make my relapse more public,” she tweeted (now deleted).
He added: “Recovery is a lifelong process. For those who are suffering, please remember that you are not alone. Thank you for your love and smart feet.”
“I do it for Baby Bumbo,” she wrote, referring to the title of the new film about hockey player Sophie “Bumbo” Braverman.
“Everyone, please be honest. Nothing is as sick as our secrets,” the post continued. “I love you, even if no one told you today. No matter how rock bottom we hit, we’ll see how our experiences can help others. Keep going, kids. Don’t quit before the miracle. Wallpaper your hearts with love. Rest is all noise and foolishness.”
Two months later, Lyon gave an update on his sobriety journey following his relapse.
“I’m proud to report that this child is much better and back on her feet,” the “Russian Doll” alum wrote on March 19, via X.
“I would like to thank our recovery community and our fans who stood by and supported us,” she added.
“While I hope to keep this journey private in some way, I naturally look forward to sharing my experiences, strength, and hope. My heart goes out to everyone going through this.”
kickoff flight
In April 2026, Page Six exclusively reported that Lyonne, who shocked fans with her risqué look at the red carpet premiere of season 3 of Euphoria, was removed from a Delta flight just hours later.
Lyonne, who attended the show as a guest star, was seen boarding a plane to New York wearing the same black stockings and shades she wore to the premiere, as well as sneakers and a black coat.
A flight attendant asked Ms. Leung to close her laptop and fasten her seatbelt for takeoff, but she did not comply.
A number of flight attendants repeatedly tried to get Ms Lyon, who was seated in first class, to follow instructions, but witnesses said she appeared to be dozing behind her sunglasses. At one point, she was even surprised and said, “Oh! I was scared!”
Lyon’s laptop was taken from her hands. The plane taxied to the runway but returned to the gate before takeoff.
A Delta Airlines employee boarded the plane and asked Leung, “Ma’am, do you need medical treatment?” Then they said, “Ma’am, we would like you to get off the plane. Do you need help carrying your belongings?”
The “Poker Face” alum could be heard asking, “Where am I?” Before being told, “We’re still in Los Angeles. The plane isn’t going anywhere. …The plane isn’t going anywhere until you get off.”
Mr. Lyon eventually got up and went to the bathroom, then exited the plane without incident.
The plane’s captain said Lyon had “disobeyed some basic commands” and apologized to the remaining passengers for the incident.
Representatives for Mr. Lyon did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Page Six.
