What’s wrong with Kim Delaney?
The star of Lifetime’s “Army Wives” was kicked off stage at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center Thursday night after delivering an inappropriate and at times incomprehensible speech at the Liberty Medal Award presentation to former defense secretary Robert Gates.
Delaney stumbled to the podium and twisted her hands as she talked about having “served in active military duty family for five years.” “I’ve seen soldiers come home with painful life altering injuries borne of their time and service,” she said, slurring at times. “I’ve attended numerous military funerals, including that of my best friend’s son.”
Except, she hasn’t.
“It’s all make believe. I do that as a job. It’s make believe,” she said nearly two minutes into her speech. “I have the luxury to do all of this on a television show.”
Video from ABC affiliate WPVI shows the crowd growing uncomfortable as Delaney rambles on. She was escorted off stage before finishing her remarks.
CBS’ Philadelphia affiliate reported that Delaney was supposed to read her speech off a teleprompter, but technical difficulties forced her to wing it. Representatives for the National Constitution Center did not immediately respond to ABCNews.com’s requests for comment.
Delaney, 49, has had issues with substance abuse — in 2002, she was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving after she refused to take a breathalyzer test. She’s sought rehab for alcohol addiction twice.
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