Alec Baldwin tries to take back his tarnished reputation

Alec Baldwin tries to take back his tarnished reputation

Alex BaldwinLike me, you probably don’t follow Alec Baldwin closely. Unless you’re a huge fan of 30 Rock or The Hunt for Red October, you’re probably only aware of Baldwin’s career through the lens of the paparazzi.

Well, Alec Baldwin has apparently had enough of having his reputation being defined by a media that is reckless with the truth. In a candid article in New York Magazine, Baldwin shares his side of recent stories about him, including him being a homophobe:

Then this other thing happens with TMZ and then it becomes a one-two punch. All this is based on the fact of them believing what I said on a video…[Harvey] Levin told the world that that muffled sound on the video—Levin wanted everyone to know he knows what it is. You don’t know, and I don’t know, but Levin knows, and he tells the world that it’s “faggot.”

I get angry, and I’ve said all sorts of things in anger, but I’d never use that word. Levin has so little regard for the truth, which is odd, knowing he was once a legal correspondent for the CBS affiliate in L.A.

It’s always hard to tell just how transparent and sincere a Hollywood actor is being–after all, they’ve made their millions by pretending–but Baldwin’s comments at least come across as honest. If you read the entire piece, you’ll note many places where the actor admits to being less than savory.

Baldwin finishes up his piece by explaining that his political ambitions are now shot down and, going forward, will spend as little time as possible in the public eye. His way of limiting the amount of gossip that he inadvertently helps generate.

For me, Baldwin scored a win in the reputation column. While most actors tend to let the media say whatever they want, Baldwin has finally issued his side of the story. It may not be any more credible than what we’ve read in the media, but it is his side of the story. It lends balance, and serves as a reminder that the paparazzi are often the Hollywood equivalent of internet trolls.

Two questions remain, which I will leave for you to weigh in on:

1). Is this too little too late?

2. Has this article changed your opinion of Baldwin?

ByAndy Beal

Andy Beal is The Original Online Reputation Expert™. A bestselling author of two critically-acclaimed reputation management books, a keynote speaker at dozens of events, and brand consultant experience with thousands of individuals and companies.