I suppose Alec Baldwin just can’t help himself at this point. MSNBC has suspended “Up Late with Alec Baldwin” following the temperamental star’s latest run in with the paparazzi. A video of the incident was featured on TMZ and shows Baldwin confronting several photographers while allegedly calling one a “c**ksucking f*g”. From ABC News:
The cable channel didn’t specify the reason it yanked Friday night’s “Up Late with Alec Baldwin” from its schedule this week and next, but the decision came the day after the Thursday run-in.
In a statement on MSNBC website, Baldwin wrote that he “did not intend to hurt or offend anyone with my choice of words, but clearly I have — and for that I am deeply sorry.”
We’ve documented Baldwin’s use of (totally not) homophobic slurs before and Baldwin has copped to saying some of the alleged comments, but has kept away from the more damning accusations that have have drawn the ire of GLADD and other members of the media.
This incident follows another in August where Baldwin scuffled with a photographer in Greenwich Village and comes hot on the heels of Baldwin’s recent legal victory against stalker Genevieve Sabourin.
Naturally Twitter has become the go to place for reactions on the story. Baldwin himself posted numerous tweets early on questioning the accusations of homophobia and later scrubbed his account of any reference, which is pretty useless in the Internet age.
Best of all is Anderson Cooper’s reaction to this second round of slurs. Taking a break from reporting on the crisis in the Philippines, Cooper posted his thoughts on Baldwin’s comments and resulting explanation.
I didn’t think Baldwin’s show would last long in the first place considering MSNBC’s ratings woes as of late, but this has to be a torpedo for the whole production. A two week suspension is light compared to public perception of your character and being known as a homophobe is a lot worse than being known as a hot head.
Observing this whole situation makes one thing clear: George Clooney is smart for staying off Twitter. It is very hard to defend Baldwin right now and even harder not to think of Bill Hader’s epic impression on ‘South Park.‘
Via gettyimages/ andersoncooper / gdthomp01 / Daily News via Front Pages