Alec Baldwin has taken a beathing in the media the past few years and now he’s says he’s had enough – in a 5,000 word cover story for New York magazine. Irony much?
He does say in the article, “I’m aware that it’s ironic that I’m making this case in the media—but this is the last time I’m going to talk about my personal life in an American publication ever again.” So he’s not unaware of how it looks as he slams the media and some of the people in it including Anderson Cooper, Rachel Maddow, and Harvey Levin by using the media to do it.
As far as his treatment the past year or so, “I’ve read where a number of people have felt that 2013 was a shitty year. For me, it was actually a great year, because my wife and I had a baby. But, yeah, everything else was pretty awful. And I find myself bitter, defensive, and more misanthropic than I care to admit.”
He also addresses whether he is a homophobe, accusations that came about when he used a gay slur and got fired from his MSNBC gig.
“Am I a homophobe? Look, I work in show business. I am awash in gay people, as colleagues and as friends. I’m doing Rock of Ages one day, making out with Russell Brand. Soon after that, I’m advocating with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Cynthia Nixon for marriage equality. I’m officiating at a gay friend’s wedding. I’m not a homophobic person at all. But this is how the world now sees me.”
He does apologize for offending people, but in closing says enough is enough for him.
“I started out as an actor, where you seek to understand yourself using the words of great writers and collaborating with other creative people. Then I slid into show business, where you seek only an audience’s approval, whether you deserve it or not. I think I want to go back to being an actor now. There’s a way I could have done things differently. I know that. If I offended anyone along the way, I do apologize. But the solution for me now is: I’ve lived this for 30 years, I’m done with it.”
His final thought though was on none other than Shia LaBeouf, who he says he can relate to saying that when he saw Shia wear a bag on his head saying “I am not famous anymore” he actually felt sorry for him.
Now if you don’t mind, kindly get off his lawn.
Alec Baldwin: Good-bye, Public Life [Vulture]