I think it is important to note, in light of recent events, a couple of clarifications.
One is that I never used the word faggot in the tape recording being offered as evidence against me. What word is said right after the other choice word I use is unclear. But I can assure you, with complete confidence, that a direct homophobic slur (or indirect one for that matter) is not spoken. In the wake of referring to a tabloid “journalist” as a toxic queen, I would never allow myself to make that mistake again, nor would I expose my wife and family to the attendant ridicule. My friends who happen to be gay are baffled by this. They see me as one who has recently fought for marriage equality and has been a supporter of gay rights for many years. Now, the charge of being a “homophobic bigot,” to quote one crusader in the gay community, is affixed.
Another issue I want to address is the decision by MSNBC to suspend my show. Whether the show comes back at all is at issue right now. My producers and I had a very enlightening and well-researched program prepared to air on November 22nd itself, dealing with John Kennedy’s assassination. That show is off the air now. I am deeply apologetic to Ron Fried, who worked extremely hard with me on that show. It’s heartbreaking to me that the show, meant to coincide with the actual anniversary, will not be aired that night. The show is no doubt a work in progress and one that I believe featured some interesting guests and disseminated a good deal of interesting information. But if the show dies, its fate ends up being no different than the vast majority of start-up TV programming, and so be it. We do take a small amount of pride in knowing that we beat CNN in the ratings each of our nights. (I forget who they had on at that time.)
I have been a fan of MSNBC for some time. Its left-leaning tone never bothered me. I still believe that they are more enamored of and devoted to the truth in any single hour than Fox is all year long. I think Rachel Maddow is perhaps the single most important television journalist on the air today. And if my show does disappear, I will be grateful in so far as her good work, along with that of O’Donnell and Hayes and Sharpton and Matthews and Jansing, will not be sullied by my problem.
Also, it is interesting to note how, once again, the lie travels around the world quicker than even Twain imagined. Oddly, my foundation has donated over $11 million of a projected $15 million from revenue from my recent Capital One ads. Many people don’t know that and when informed actually find it hard to believe. But the assertion that I am a bigoted homophobe travels at light speed and, at least in the case of those who like their internet news without fact or reflection, is accepted, even cheered, without a moment of doubt.
Additionally, the press never turns the camera around on themselves. Least of all the tabloid press. My wife is a young mother with a newborn child. Yet reporters harass and hector her and our baby outside our home in ways that approximate a hockey brawl. It is shameful. And it should be illegal.
I am concerned for my family. In Bloomberg’s New York, forty or fifty paparazzi are allowed to block streets, inconvenience homeowners, workers and shoppers, and make life miserable for my neighbors. Photographers have tripped and fallen on babies in strollers on my block. They have nearly struck my wife in the face with microphones. They provoke me, daily, by getting dangerously close to me with their cameras as weapons, hoping I will react. When I do, the weapon doubles as a device to record my reaction. And then, apparently, I lose every time. If quitting the television business, the movie business, the theatre, any component of entertainment, is necessary in order to bring safety and peace to my family, then that is an easy decision. This country’s obsession with the private lives of famous people is tragic. It’s tragic in the sense that it is so clearly a projection of people’s frustration about their government, their economy, their own spiritual bankruptcy. You have no voice in Washington. In Washington, or in any statehouse, no one actually cares what you think. So you post online, you vote with a Roman-esque thumbs up or down on the celebrity debacle of the day. That is your right. It’s also fatal misdirection of your voice and need to judge. Occupy Wall Street, on their worst day, had more integrity than the comments page of a website ever will.
Two requests. Don’t allow my problem to be MSNBC’s problem. They are good people who work hard at a job, just like many of you. And two, please respect the privacy of my wife and family. If you have an opinion of me, then express it. Think what you like. But I ask that my wife, who I care about more than words can say, and both my children, be left out of this.
— Alec Baldwin discussing his alleged use of an antigay slur against paparazzi, in a blog entry published on Huffington Post
middleagespread
I like him. He has a temper. He uses words that aren’t acceptable. Sure he maybe a complete d bag. But, I would bet my last penny he is a true friend. I don’t remember him saying he was perfect. Maybe it is time for us to realize that people are human. I know I make many mistakes daily. Thankfully I am not in the public eye for the world to see my issues.
DarkZephyr
I don’t consider him a homophobe at all and I think Anderson Cooper in this case needs to get over himself.
MikeE
Well, if he isn’t a bigot and a homophobe then maybe he should STOP USING THOSE WORDS when he gets upset!
Baldwin is an idiot.
He might act like an ally to the LGBT community, he might give money, but deep down inside him, there’s a serious problem with homophobia that he really needs to deal with.
Dxley
I’m sorry, but his mouth usually utters nothing but drivel; didn’t read that shit!
AuntieChrist
They will be serving crow as the main course…With a huge piece of humble pie for dessert… I guess getting bitch slapped by MSNBC had nothing to do with that…. JFK? Really? I am soooo sad I am going to miss THAT show. This is one dead horse that has not been beaten enough… Gee wiz, now we are gonna miss out on all the new things that they have discovered…It has only been 50 years since the assassination.
Jim Hlavac
@middleagespread: True friends of mine have never yelled “faggot” at anyone in public — perhaps you should put your love of Hollywood stars aside and listen to what they say. Remember, when a hetero yells “faggot” it’s not like a gay guy you know in a bar saying “oh, you cute faggot.” There’s a difference.
I’m sure, though, with your “He uses words that are unacceptable” you would perhaps be so loving of many who use other epithets against other small groups of people — say “n….” against Obama? Hmm. Yeesh.
Snapper59
“In the wake of referring to a tabloid âjournalistâ as a toxic queen, I would never allow myself to make that mistake again”
LOL, this is “The Onion”, right? “Oh honey, I again apologize for calling you a “fat bitch” that one time. I will never use that term again. You know the one, “fat bitch”.”
middleagespread
@Jim Hlavac: point taken. Just to clear up my thought. When I said a true friend, I meant to his friends, not to the lgbt community. And yes, there are a few in Hollywood that I do like for their personalities. I have always had bad taste in men.
Ottoman
And yet, MSNBC does nothing when Morning Joe let’s Tony Perkins or Ralph Reed spend a few segments commenting about politics. Or Chris Christie spews his nonsense about marriage being a 2000 year old tradition AKA biblical.. I guess homophobia is okay as long as it’s expressed in a conversational tone.
Cam
@Ottoman:
Actually that is a great point. Baldwin is quickly taken to task on this, and yet somebody from NOM or FRC can get on there and advocate that gays don’t have civil rights or try to defend not hiring them and they aren’t banned from the network.
Degas
No, homophobia is never okay. Not even when expressed in a conversational tone. MSNBC lets the homophobes on because they need to show both sides to the issue. Now, Baldwin is an angry, fowl mouthed pig. If he feels threatened by the media, hire security. His anti-gay profanity speaks volumes about his inner demons and he’s just pissed he got caught. Again. Remember the vile rant against his own daughter? This man is trash.
Elloreigh
Well, I’ve watched the clip and I can’t be sure what he said. The audio isn’t crisp and clear at that specific point. So it’s basically a case of “he said/he said”. Do we believe the paparazzo, or Baldwin?
I don’t think we can just ignore the relevant fact that he has a history of losing his temper and using language that damages his credibility. No amount of explaining or denial will fix that.
Maybe the paparazzi are a bit ‘out of control’, but the plain fact is that we have a free press. If they’re actions become criminal, press charges. Or turn the tables – get their behavior on record and use it as evidence in a civil suit.
Or, maybe the best action he can take at this time is indeed to remove himself and his family from the glare of the press by keeping a lower profile.
But having a well-worded tantrum at everyday people for judging the situation as they see it from their perspective is not going to help. Celebrity is a double-edged sword. It’s his celebrity that allows him do to many of the things he talks about in that interview. If he wants a private life, I agree he’s just as entitled to one as anyone else, celebrity or not – but if it’s being a celebrity that is interfering with it, then he’s going to have to find a way to come to terms with that.
Much as I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt, there comes a point where past behavior tells us that perhaps it’s not merited. And I think perhpas we’ve reached that point where Baldwin is concerned.
As for the “integrity” of people making comments on web sites, I’ll certainly agree that there are trolls out there who have none. But to lump us all in together is adding insult to injury. There are many “choice words” I could use to describe how I feel about that, but I will have the “integrity” to refrain. Maybe Baldwin should finally get the message that it’s his integrity on the line here, not ours. And his is definitely suffering from his own behavior.
HirsuteOne
It’s really quite simple. If Alec is concerned about publicity fallout and worried about the safety of his family due to his behavior, then he should stop that behavior.
Red_Dragon_888
I saw the video and he sounds like he is from Upstate New York. Language and all.
the other Greg
Baldwin reminded me of someone and I was trying to think who it was… oh yeah, Richie Incognito! “When I used the n-word I was using it out of lo-o-o-ve!” Barf.
@Ottoman: @Cam: Actually I’m surprised – and glad – that MSNBC did ANYTHING at all about the Baldwin situation. I’d assumed they wouldn’t do anything. It took them years to finally pull the plug on Pat Buchanan as a regular commentator. (I don’t recall the final straw with him but without looking it up, I’m guessing it was something racial, not something gay?)
There’s a big difference between the occasional guests you mention – who after all appear on practically every political show – and a show host. On MSNBC at least we can usually count on the liberal host giving them a hard time. Except for maybe Joe Scarborough, and even him sometimes.
By contrast, Alec Baldwin as a show HOST (and Buchanan as a paid employee) had more responsibility and culpability.
Chris Matthews, for instance, has come around to realizing that TV journalists tend to get very lazy on gay issues, and present a “false equivalency” where there’s a sane, rational pro-gay guest vs. some fringe nutbag like Tony Perkins who doesn’t really represent much of anyone anyway. Matthews has resolved to avoid this sort of situation in the future and he seems to be better about that lately.
the other Greg
Also, MSNBC is the only network with several openly gay HOSTS – at least three: Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes and Steve Kornacki. (Am I forgetting one?) This would be unimaginable even a few years ago. Progress.
lovetennis
How does not using the f word (according to him) but using the previous word in the outburst make it any better? One is just as bad as the other isn’t it? He can call “c**ksucking” a choice word, but every time a hetero uses it toward another male, the inference is pretty clear. You’re despicable because you would do the same thing only a gay male would do with another male. A straight man – a real man surely wouldn’t do that. That’s what it says to me. Sorry, but not buying his ranting any more.
PS @ the other Greg – Chris Hayes is married and has a young daughter. Maybe you mean Thomas Roberts?
Daniel-Reader
Wealthy people whining is extra irritating. If his wife was actually hit by microphones, then you press charges for assault. Is he still calling his own daughter names? He is voluntarily making money as a celebrity – he can stop and go wash dishes for a living any time he wants, and someone with more talent is always waiting in the wings to replace current actors.
Caleb in SC
The Lady doth pretest too much, methinks!
Atomicrob
Knowing what to say and when to say it, is a skill. Knowing when to be silent, is an art.
jimbryant
Alec Baldwin is an ugly liberal with verbal diarrhea.
These ugly liberals are always sorry after the fact. They do their damage and then apologize for it.
krystalkleer
@jimbryant: welcome to snoreville!
http://getoffmydress.blogspot.com/2013/11/buff-n-puff.html
Stache1
@jimbryant: Well, so what? He apologised for it. Lets move on. I’d rather have someone like that on our team then someone who “talks the talk” but silently works against my rights. Baldin can be an asshole for sure but his heart is in the right place.
the other Greg
@lovetennis: Sorry – you are correct!
@jimbryant: What a surprise – the most idiotic, misogynist poster on Queerty reveals himself to be a hater of “liberals.” Although I guess I’m a little surprised that jason/brian/ jimbryant took any time away from hating women long enough to comment on Alec Baldwin!
hotshot70
I don’t think he’s a homophobe, I just don’t like him for being a conceited ass!
oim12
I’ll be so glad when this jackass’ 5 minutes are up!
Bumper
All is forgiven if I can rub my hands over his chest. đ I know his ego gets the best of him, but I don’t think for a minute he thinks about what he is saying in the heat of the moment that his epitaphs are his true thoughts. I would use any word without real meaning if I were being harassed by the paparazzi 24/7. I simply can’t judge him on that matter.