Amy Poehler once turned a first-class flight into an unforgettable showdown—and her “Mean Girls” co-star was there to witness every profanity-laced second.
The beloved “Parks and Recreation” star didn’t hold back when a fellow passenger tried to police her language mid-flight.
Ana Gasteyer, who played Lindsay Lohan’s mom in the iconic 2004 comedy, recently spilled the hilarious details on Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast.
What started as innocent airplane banter quickly escalated into what Gasteyer called “the best thing I’ve ever seen.”
When First Class Gets Feisty
Gasteyer didn’t waste time bringing up the infamous incident during their podcast conversation.
I remember being on the plane with you.
Poehler, who played Regina George’s mom June in “Mean Girls,” immediately knew where this was heading. Smiling, she confirmed the memory.
Yeah. We were on the plane, and I got in a fight with a guy.
But here’s where things get truly memorable: Gasteyer’s baby daughter Frances was on that same flight, witnessing Poehler’s unfiltered moment.
Baby on Board Didn’t Stop the Boston Accent
When Gasteyer reminded Poehler about Frances being present, Amy’s response was characteristically self-aware and hilarious.
Your baby Frances, who is now in her 20s. She was on the plane, and I still got in a fight with the guy with the baby around?
Gasteyer confirmed what triggered the confrontation—the man took issue with Poehler’s colorful language in front of the infant.
But Frances wasn’t the real catalyst. Another first-class passenger decided to play flight monitor, complaining about noise levels.
The Complaint That Unleashed Boston Amy
Poehler recounted how one particularly bold passenger decided to confront her about disturbing his first-class experience.
Yeah. Right. It’s a long story, but what happened was a guy, like a first-class guy – we were in first class too – he was like, ‘Excuse me, I’m trying to … you’re being too loud in first class.’ And my Boston came out.
Anyone familiar with Poehler knows exactly what “my Boston came out” means—unapologetic, direct, and absolutely not backing down.
Gasteyer’s reaction to watching this unfold says everything about how epic the moment truly was.
The best thing I’ve ever seen.
Behind the Scenes of Mean Girls Magic
Beyond airplane altercations, the two actresses shared warm memories of working together on one of comedy’s most quotable films.
Gasteyer recalled intimate moments with Poehler during production, including late-night drinks at their hotel.
Watching Tina Fey Create a Cultural Phenomenon
Perhaps most fascinating was Gasteyer’s recollection of witnessing Tina Fey—who wrote and starred in “Mean Girls”—transform Rosalind Wiseman’s book into screenplay gold.
I remember when Tina … I have a memory of her sitting at the table on 17 and saying, ‘I think I’m going to option this book.’
Poehler shared her own vivid memory of watching cinematic history being written in real-time.
Me too. I have an image of her sitting at her computer and having the book near her, and just working on it, being like, ‘I’m writing this movie.’
Both actresses recognized they were witnessing something special—a comedy that would define an entire generation’s vocabulary and remain endlessly quotable two decades later.
The Legacy Lives On
“Mean Girls” premiered in 2004 and immediately became a cultural touchstone. Lines like “On Wednesdays we wear pink” and “That’s so fetch” entered everyday conversation.
Poehler’s portrayal of June George—the desperately-trying-to-be-cool mom—became instantly iconic. Her performance captured something universal about parental awkwardness and desperation for relevance.
Gasteyer’s role as Lohan’s sensible mother provided perfect contrast to Poehler’s character, grounding the film’s more outrageous moments.
Now, twenty years later, both actresses can look back fondly at not just creating comedy gold, but experiencing unforgettable moments like Amy’s midair confrontation.
That baby Frances who witnessed Poehler’s Boston accent emerge? She’s now in her twenties, likely with her own legendary story about being present for one of comedy’s unscripted moments.
Sometimes real life provides better material than any script—especially when Amy Poehler refuses to be silenced at 30,000 feet.