Baldwin Rivets Audience on "View"

31. Alec Baldwin offers up as a rationale for his tirade the fact that he has been in a frustrating position in regards to his daughter for years.

But, IMO, his rationale, rather than giving him cover, instead exposes him.

If this situation has been going on for years, then that only reinforces the fact that Baldwin should have had a plan of action in place for how to deal with it. He should have long since worked out how to keep his temper in check for the inevitable frustrations. In the best interests of his child's well being.

But listening to him fly off when Ireland missed a phone call is evidence that this is Baldwin's M.O. He is obviously a self-indulgent blowhard who turns everything into a major drama.

Before this incident, I was on Baldwin's side. I bought into all of his slander of his wife. He painted a picture of Basinger in the media as a psycho witch and I believed it.

But I believe it no more. Basinger is probably far from an angel but I admire her for going to bat for her child.

Releasing this tape did not intrude on Ireland's privacy. Thanks to Alec Baldwin, everyone already is familiar with her name and her circumstances. Circumstances of being stuck in the middle of a nightmare divorce.

It did not take this answering machine tape to make Ireland Baldwin known to the public. Alec had already seen to that. By trashing her mother at every opportunity. As he continues to do by referring to Basinger in his latest statement as "pathological."

Posted at 4:32PM on Apr 25th 2007 by yrtr

32. Oh, god. Now 'The View' has turned into a PAY WHORE show like 'Entertainment Tonight'. It's all spin control and 'The View' is giving him the platform. Pretty pathetic.

'The View' was a pretty limiting concept right from the get-go, but has gone waaaaaaay down the tubes since the departure of Star Jones and the hiring of Rosie O'Donnell.

Posted at 4:36PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Tristan Unsworth

33. My kid is around his daughters age and i'm sorry no matter how mad i would be at his dad or him i would not ever degrate him bye calling him names or screaming at him like he's a damn dog. Forgive all you want but like someone said he's a freaken actor he gets paid to fake emotions. If he was that angry over the phone what does he do when he's that angry in person? I say daddy needs to have surpervise visits but then again i'm just a parent not a judge.

Posted at 4:34PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Dawn

34. Empathy only goes so far. The fact that Mr. Baldwin attacks another - especially his 11yr old daughter - with such vicious words against their person is unconscionable. His behavior shows an abusive, mean spirited, vindictive, self centered, immature soul. Too bad shame won't humble his grandiosity or mea culpas.

The fact that Rosie O'Donnell or anyone else who would support or give allegiance to this kind of emotional abuse against a child, should be hung out to dry as well, and then forever be ignored.

Posted at 4:42PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Mari

35. 20. #12 and #13.... Really?

So do you scream terrible names at your children? You seem to defend his actions. HE is adult here and not the 11 year old child. What did she do other than not answer the phone? I can understand his frustration with the back and forth name calling between him and his ex but that does NOT give him any excuse for going off on his 11 year old like he did calling her a "pig" and such. Anyone who defends this is sick and yet you two seem to think that it's okay because all parents go off or such. NO THEY DO NOT. I would never call a child what he called his own daughter, period! This is not TMZ's fault for posting this....this is Alec Baldwin's fault. He ought to own up to his own temper and act like a man. I would respect him a lot more if he came out and accepted his responsibility in this. What he said is verbal and mental abuse and no all parents do not act like him.

Posted at 4:18PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Anna

Question for this poster....do you have kids??? Not that I am defending his comments in any way...but having kids I have somewhat of an understanding of the frustration that might have caused it. (Like when my 5 year old decided to paint the Brand New family car with magic markers LOL - Hubby had quite a few choice words then LOL - but sometimes things happen in the heat of the moment...again, no excuse for it...but you apologize and life goes on) My problem is with who ever posted this information. Bassinger denies it...but come on...how else could TMZ have gotten a copy of the tape?? Do you really think the 11 year old sent it to TMZ??? If Bassinger did it, she is just as much to blame, if not more so, than Baldwin. What he said was meant to be a private, if not inexcusable message, to his daughter. Whoever let that tape out submitted that child to public ridicule. Nancy Grace played that tape to death on her show last night. Not just once, but over and over and over again. This should have been a private matter for the so called "adults" to deal with. Now it is just fodder for the tabloids and shows like Nancy Grace. I just think people need to back off and let the "parents" grow up and handle this among themselves. Everyone is knocking Baldwin, but Bassinger isn't exactly a glowing example of the perfect mother either!! (IMO)

Posted at 4:41PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Kelly

36. Why is it that in every photo of Rosie ever posted or shown anywhere her big huge mouth is wide open??? Oh right.. because she never ever shuts it. How could she have shut it long enough for Alec to run on over to his buddies at the view and try to repair his image? I have no use for Alec ''I trashed my daughter" Baldwin. I don't care if she did cause it.. He's supposed to be the parent. He sounded like the child. Grow up and be a parent Alec. And that doesn't mean trash your daughter, and then go crying on the view when the world finds out. Poor pitiful Alec. Probably not the first time you trashed her. It's no wonder she doesn't want to answer your call.

Posted at 4:51PM on Apr 25th 2007 by GemBo

37. It is never under any circumstance appropriate for a parent to belittle and demean any child. The fact that Mr Baldwin continues to minimize his role in this fiasco only validates his need for parenting classes and some anger management. As for Kim Bassinger, she is no better. How, did this tape become released? Simply because it was done through a third party and likely with her blessing, doesn't mean she is any better and perhaps worse because she is using her daughter as a pawn in what is clearly already a dysfunctional relationship. I think child's advocate needs to be appointed by the courts to look after this poor girls best interests. Someone with no agenda. Especially since now it has become so obvious that her parents cannot see past their own hatred of each other to protect her.

Posted at 4:42PM on Apr 26th 2007 by Rita

38. He's just worried about his image. Here's a good biz for hik. LOL
http://anemicroyalty.wordpress.com/2007/04/23/alec-baldwin-ringtones/

Posted at 4:57PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Jean

39. I know just how this guy feels. I too was alienated by my ex wife from my children. It is one of the most awful things to have happen to you. I love my children and always have. I moved 10 hrs away from the rest of my family just to try and be close to them, only to have my ex up and move again. We fought 5 times in court and the family courts did nothing but increase my child support and allow her to manipulate and decieve. Even when court ordered counseling was asssessed against her she bolted and didnt go and still was allowed to do what she did. I was emotionally and viciously raped of a relationship with my children all from a soured womans vindictiveness, only to find no help from a screwed up money crunching family court system that does nothing for the kids or families but suck the monies like a hoover vaccuum. Im with you Alec all the way. Maybe your noteriety can bring justice to a failing system. Oh and all you haters don't hate the message hate yourselves for being such childish little people.

Posted at 5:09PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Doug

40. Alec Baldwin is not crying for his daughter, he's crying 'cause he got busted talking smack to his daughter. Or maybe he was AHCTING!

Posted at 5:07PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Not A Man Yet

41. He is so full of it!

He must have made Kim B and Ireland miserable for years.

Posted at 5:33PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Alec has no brains

42. "Releasing the tape doesn't invade Ireland's privacy"??? You must be Kim Basinger to think that. Only a deep denial and a complete lack of empathy could produce such a statement. Of course it does! Her father losing his cool and berating her on the phone is one thing, her mother (who else would have done it?) releasing it to the public so that it can be a tabloid/TV/gossip fodder is another. She magnified whatever damage he might have done. It's one thing to lose one's temper with a teen or a pre-teen (people who never raised a teen have no business commenting on this issue) but it's another thing to turn it into a nasty, public spat. He called Ireland and apologized, if Kim wanted to use the tape in court, she had every right to do it. Instead, she chose to humiliate him at her daughter's expense. Whatever faults he has, at least he's trying to maintain contact with his child while the mother refuses to share the child with him. They've been at it for 6 years, if he's an abuser, his rights would have been taken away from him. She's hoping to get it accomplished by using this tape. Sneaky, manipulative, egotistical woman.

Posted at 5:19PM on Apr 25th 2007 by maxine

43. There is nothing more frustrating than to try to deal with an 11 year old. Alec should just remember that he is the adult. If his daughter doesn't care enough to be available for his phone calls, he should just leave a message that he did call, and went to some trouble to uphold his end of their agreement. After a few missed calls (which he should record), Ireland shouldn't be surprised if she hears from her father less frequently. Alec should feel free to write to his daughter expressing his love and affection. He would then have the freedom of being able to express himself without interruption and in his own time frame. Keep a copy for his records and never express anger or frustration. Maybe when Ireland has a free moment she can read them and know that her father does love her. Maybe the word can get through to her without her mother's interference.

Posted at 5:22PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Joe

44. #34.....you might want to consider taking a class in English grammar.........

#39 (Doug).....I'm sorry for the pain you've been put through.....while I think that Alec's behavior is dead wrong, I hold Kim equally responsible for the mess this family is in (if not more so) JMO

Posted at 5:27PM on Apr 25th 2007 by mckee

45. WAH, WAH, WAH.........................HE'S JUST LOOKING FOR SYMPATHY AND PUBLICITY................NEXT HE'LL BE ON SNL PLAYING A DAD SCREAMING AT HIS 11 YEAR OLD..............ALL ABOUT THE $$$

Posted at 5:50PM on Apr 25th 2007 by Debbie Smith