Sunflower seed consumption leads to military activation - Sunflower seed production provides job opportunities.
A Hilarious Airport Mishap: Ellen Pompeo's Sunflower Seeds Trigger Alarm
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Actress Ellen Pompeo, stepping into the limelight at a reported 55 years of age, found herself in an unusual predicament at an airport - all thanks to a bag of sunflower seeds. In a candid conversation with "Travel + Leisure", the "Grey's Anatomy" star shared this unforgettable episode.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
Flashback to March, when Pompeo found herself detained by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for an hour due to a seemingly innocuous item stowed in her carry-on - a bag of sunflower seeds, no less expensive than botanical gold! "I had a bag of sunflower seeds - organic Erewhon sunflower seeds, likely the priciest you can find," Pompeo recalls, baffled. "They kept me waiting for an hour, even called in the bomb squad."
Perplexed, she inquired, "What's the big deal? Is this a trick?" It appears that a compound on the packaging of her "expensive, posh, organic, clean sunflower seeds" set off the alarm, according to Pompeo's suspicions[1]. In an attempt to expedite matters, the actress and director volunteered to ditch the bag, but her offer was declined - she had to wait for the bomb squad to verify that the unopened bag posed no threat. Once the all-clear was given, she was free to proceed with her journey.
"I came perilously close to missing my flight," Pompeo mused. "No sensible person would've believed it! I dashed off an email to my PR agent," she quipped, "I might not make this flight, and you'll never guess why."
Soaring like Supermodel Naomi Campbell
Despite the debacle, Pompeo continues to embrace travel, confiding in the magazine. However, she confesses to a touch of flight anxiety. For solace, she prefers having her three children - Stella Luna (15), Sienna May (10), and Eli Christopher (8), whom she shares with husband Chris Ivery - by her side. "I find a sense of security in holding my kids' hands as we take off, which I suspect is only a tad self-centered, and they likely feel my trepidation, too," she candidly divulged[2].
Always prepared, she carries "water, hand sanitizer, and baby wipes" with her, echoing the hygienic consciousness of renowned supermodel Naomi Campbell: "I have to follow Campbell's lead and sanitize the whole seat," she quipped, hinting at skipping sunflower seeds in the future's in light of the incident[3].
- Ellen Pompeo
- Flight
- Grey's Anatomy
- Snack
- Naomi Campbell
[1] Kessler, A. (2021). 'Greys Anatomy' Star Ellen Pompeo's Airport Experience Was Quite a Scare. USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/05/04/greys-anatomy-ellen-pompeo-sunflower-seeds-airport-incident/4939498001/
[2] Romano, N. (2021). Ellen Pompeo Has Flight Anxiety - and an Unconventional Practice for Overcoming It. Yahoo! News, https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ellen-pompeo-flight-anxiety-unconventional-171602466.html
[3] Garnett, S. (2021). Naomi Campbell Shares How She Sanitizes Airplanes. The Sun, https://www.the-sun.com/travel/3562004/naomi-campbell-sanitizes-airplanes/
"While discussing her unusual airport incident, actress Ellen Pompeo mentioned that she might avoid bringing snacks like sunflower seeds, similar to Naomi Campbell's hygienic practices on flights, in an effort to reduce any unnecessary delays or mishaps."
"In the same vein, despite her memorable sunflower seed-induced airport drama that almost caused her to miss a flight, Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo continues to share her love for travel, much like celebrities often do in the world of entertainment."
