Alec Baldwin TV Trouble - P 2013
NewscomAlec Baldwin is not mincing words in the aftermath of his MSNBC talk show Up Late getting the ax after just five episodes. After fallout from a recent paparazzi scuffle that saw TMZ post footage of the actor shouting unconfirmed homophobic slurs caused MSNBC to suspend production on the program, the cable net and Baldwin’s rep announced a “mutual parting” on Tuesday morning.
The actor, who has remained largely silent since the incident with the exception of a Huffington Post editorial, spoke with Gothamist shortly after news of Up Late‘s cancellation hit. In addition to shouldering some of the responsibility, he was quick to point out GLAAD publicity vp Rich Ferraro and blogger Andrew Sullivan “killed” his show.
MSNBC Cancels Alec Baldwin Talker ‘Up Late’
” ‘Faggot’ is not the word that came out of my mouth,” he told Gothamist. “That I know. But you’ve got the fundamentalist wing of gay advocacy — Rich Ferraro and Andrew Sullivan — they’re out there, they’ve got you. Rich Ferraro, this is probably one of his greatest triumphs. They killed my show. And I have to take some responsibility for that myself.”
Baldwin also pointed out that Martin Bashir, the MSNBC host who has come under fire for calling Sarah Palin a “world-class idiot” in addition to making other crude suggestions, has yet to receive any formal punishment despite heavy criticism elsewhere in the media: “Martin Bashir’s on the air, and he made his comment on the air.”
TMZ, which posted the video of Baldwin’s paparazzi incident, is also not in Baldwin’s favor at the moment. “Showing a video in which I call someone a ‘cocksucking something’ … you can’t really tell what I’m saying,” he said. “And we live in a world in which the phrase ‘TMZ’s enhanced audio’ exists. TMZ’s enhanced audio!”
Baldwin’s MSNBC exit was first reported Tuesday by the New York Post, which also alleged he was difficult to work with. “People whom I worked with that I cared about — these people were all very supportive of the show,” he said. “Now, there was somebody on the staff whom I did not want to work with. There was somebody on the staff whom I thought wasn’t a good fit for me. And I wouldn’t rule out if that person went to the Post and gave them that story.”
