Alec Baldwin admitted to using an anti-gay slur – but not the one he’s been accused of saying – and only after GLAAD told him “c–ksucker” counts. Anderson Cooper Rips Alec Baldwin Or so he claims. The outspoken star then allegedly called one paparazzo a ” c–ksucking f-g ” outside his NYC apartment building Thursday afternoon. Baldwin denied using the f-bomb on Twitter, dubiously insisting he said “fathead” instead … then later coming clean, but only about the word before it. “Rich Ferraro from @glaad informs me that c’sucker is an anti-gay epithet ,” he tweeted. “In which case I apologize and will retire it from my vocabulary.” This is the second time that Alec Baldwin has come under fire for using an anti-gay slur, and like the last time, CNN’s Anderson Cooper is incredulous. Cooper went after him today, saying, “Wow, Alec Baldwin shows his true colors yet again. How is he going to lie and excuse his anti-gay slurs this time?” “Just read Alec Baldwin’s latest excuses. They are actually so ridiculous they are funny.” After a Twitter user argued that while Baldwin may be an “idiot,” he also has a “right to say” what he wants, Cooper said, “I never suggested he had to apologize.” “He can say whatever he wants, but then why repeatedly lie about it afterwards?” A fair point. As was GLAAD spokesperson Ferraro’s: “Mr. Baldwin can’t lend his support for equality on paper, while degrading gay people in practice.” You can check out a video of the incident in question below … Alec Baldwin Uses Gay Slur Against Photographer Alec Baldwin Calls Paparazzo C–ksucking F-g
Alec Baldwin has apologized for once again flipping his $hit at a reporter. The latest incident only took place on Twitter – in response to a Daily Mail writer alleging that Baldwin’s wife was on her phone during James Gandolfini’s funeral this week – but it was especially ugly because it seemed to contain multiple gay slurs. Baldwin referred to George Stark as a “queen,” for example. “My ill-advised attack on George Stark of the Daily Mail had absolutely nothing to do with issues of anyone’s sexual orientation,” Baldwin said in a statement to GLAAD late yesterday. He added: “My anger was directed at Mr. Stark for blatantly lying and disseminating libelous information about my wife and her conduct at our friend’s funeral service.” “As someone who fights against homophobia, I apologize.” “I have worked, periodically, with numerous marriage equality organizations, especially over the past couple of years, to achieve the very rights that gay couples are earning by recent court decisions.” “I would not advocate violence against someone for being gay and I hope that my friends at GLAAD and the gay community understand that my attack on Mr. Stark in no way was the result of homophobia.” “Many Thanks, Alec Baldwin.” Baldwin’s former 30 Rock co-star, Tracy Morgan, also got in trouble in 2011 for a stand-up routine in which he went off on gays . Both men have seen their subsequent apologizes accepted by GLAAD.
Alec Baldwin got into a heated confrontation with another photographer this morning, berating him, grabbing his arm and ordering him to take a hike. It’s unclear what sparked the showdown, but ever since Alec Baldwin’s attack on a photographer two weeks ago, they’ve been hounding him even more. Marcus Santos , the alleged victim of the first incident, wants to see him prosecuted. No charges have been filed, but today’s war of words won’t help Alec. Less than an hour ago, Alec approached a photographer who was hanging out in front of his New York apartment building and lashed out at the guy. “I want you to shut the f**k up … leave my neighbor alone … get outta here,” the clearly pissed 30 Rock star said to the incredulous paparazzo. Alec, who grabbed the guy’s arm briefly, soon backed off, but not before getting right in his grill and saying in menacing tone, “You little girl!” Baldwin then walked back into his building, clutching a large pink stuffed animal for some reason. TMZ has the full video of the confrontation . The NYPD is still investigating the first incident. We feel for Baldwin, but maybe he should dial down the rage and use some pithy Jack Donaghy quotes instead.
When Alec Baldwin appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman Wednesday night, he was in a joking mood, mostly laughing off the altercation he got into with a photographer on the streets of New York City Monday. But Marcus Santos, the victim in this alleged attack by the actor , sat down with Good Morning America yesterday and found the entire incident far less funny. “I feel headaches, and my jaw is hurting me,” Santos told George Stephanopoulos of the aftermath, insisting that he never hit Baldwin with a camera but Baldwin did strike him in the face. “I was trying to move back to soft the blow. He just lunged at me.” Santos says the picture that ended up on the front page of The New York Daily News does not capture the proper “angle” to depict Baldwin’s punch, and that all he wants to do is snap photos in peace. “I’m just feeling so embarrassed to what he did to me. I like to take a picture and my picture be on the front page, not me be on the front page. I’m a news person. I record news, I go there and take my pictures I don’t want to be a part of the news.” But he does want to see Baldwin prosecuted. Along with his attorney, who also appeared on GMA , Santos said he hopes the law gets involved so what happened to him “doesn’t happen to anyone else.” Baldwin, meanwhile, doesn’t seem overly contrite. As the US Supreme Court readies to announce the health care ruling, [Daily News Editor] Colin Myler has ten “reporters” and “photographers” outside my bldg… he Tweeted yesterday.
Justin Bieber’s alleged attack on a member of the paparazzi – who accuses him of roughing him up and leaving him in need of medical attention – is clearly BS. Can you see Justin Bieber roughing someone up? Seriously? That’s beside the point, though. Whatever happened, Biebs’ altercation is just the latest in a long string of tense run-ins between stars and the media who cover the celebrity gossip we crave. Here’s a look back at seven of the most memorable: Bald Britney Spears Attacks Paparazzi 1. Britney Spears : After a downward spiral that saw her shave her head, file for divorce and deliver her second child in the span of a year, Spears suffered a meltdown in February 2007 that saw her violently attack a paparazzo’s car with an umbrella: 2. Russell Brand : Katy Perry’s ex recently gave a whole new meaning to the term “dropped call” as he grabbed a photographer’s iPhone and flung it through a nearby window. Brand later turned himself in after a warrant was issued for his arrest. 3. Kanye West : The rapper racked up three misdemeanor charges in 2008 after he was arrested for allegedly wrestling with a photographer at LAX, grabbing his camera and smashing it on the floor. The charges were eventually dropped. 4. Alec Baldwin . The actor, whose fiery temper has led to some nasty public incidents, was actually placed under citizen’s arrest in 1995 after he allegedly punched a cameraman and broke his nose. A jury determined that he had acted in self-defense. The comedian later joked, “Since Steve Jobs died I cannot bear to see anyone use an iPhone irreverently, what I did was a tribute to his memory .” 5. Sean Penn : The two-time Oscar winner reportedly found a photographer in his hotel bedroom in China and dangled him from the ninth-floor balcony. Penn, never one to hold back, was reportedly charged with attempted murder for that charade but fled the country before authorities could nab him. 6. Lindsay Lohan : Driving over a paparazzo’s foot is just one entry on her laundry list of legal woes. Some people simply should not drive cars. 7. Bieber . Just by getting in the guy’s grill, Justin earned our respect.
Also in Thursday morning’s Biz Break: Another star may be leaving Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained , getting to know this year’s Cannes competition jury and a new ‘bear’ animation heads for production. Russell Brand to Host MTV Movie Awards Brand will host the awards show for the first time on June 3 from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City in California. Drive, Like Crazy, The Descendants, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and My Week with Marilyn are among this year’s nominees . Thai Cannes Palme d’Or Winner to Head Locarno Jury Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, who won the Cannes Palme d’Or in 2010 for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives , will lead the jury at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland this summer. The 65th edition will take place August 1 – 11. Vulgaria to Open New York Asian Film Festival The comedy by Pang Ho-cheung is described as a “movie about making movies,” featuring gangsters with names like Brother Tyrannosaur, sleazy lawyers, the sex-film industry, and men who “love donkeys perhaps a little too much.” The 2012 NYAFF Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Korean action director Chung Chang-Wha. Around the ‘net… Guillermo Del Toro Boards Pinocchio Del Toro will co-direct Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio along with Mark Gustafson, animation director on The Fantastic Mr. Fox . The project is a 3-D stop-motion animated production from the Jim Henson Company. Shooting begins in summer 2013, Variety reports . Sacha Baron Cohen Unties from Django He was originally attached to play the role of Scotty Harmony, a role described in the screenplay as an overweight 24-year-old who receives a female slave as a gift from his father. Dictator commitments are keeping him away from the Quentin Tarantino-directed feature. Kurt Russell may also be on the way out, Cinemapulse reports . Meet the Jury Who Will Decide the Cannes Palme d’Or Actors, directors and a fashion designer are among this group of people who will decide on Cannes winners this year, including the top prize, the Palme d’Or. THR reports . Producer David Heyman and StudioCanal Team for Paddington Bear Paul King will direct the story of the curious young bear who travels from Peru to London’s Paddington station where he’s taken in by an English family, Deadline reports .
Alec Baldwin will reportedly head off to Cannes as part of James Toback’s next project, an unscripted slice of life featuring the actor as himself, doing all the things Alec Baldwin might do at the world’s most venerated, glamorous film festival. Neve Campbell, who will not travel with the team, is said to star as Baldwin’s wife; she shot material in New York last week. Sounds great! Though if this just turns out to be a long-form Capital One commercial , I’m going to be pretty pissed. [ Forbes via VF ]
Alec Baldwin will reportedly head off to Cannes as part of James Toback’s next project, an unscripted slice of life featuring the actor as himself, doing all the things Alec Baldwin might do at the world’s most venerated, glamorous film festival. Neve Campbell, who will not travel with the team, is said to star as Baldwin’s wife; she shot material in New York last week. Sounds great! Though if this just turns out to be a long-form Capital One commercial , I’m going to be pretty pissed. [ Forbes via VF ]
If you enjoyed watching Liam Neeson battle territorial wolves in Joe Carnahan’s The Grey — and plenty of moviegoers have — then you’d be well-advised to look into Lee Tamahori’s 1997 thriller The Edge . Starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin and perhaps best characterized by screenwriter David Mamet’s trademark clipped dialogue, the film is an unusually strong entry in the survival-story tradition — and one to which The Grey owes at least a spiritual debt (if not more). This genre is certainly well-trod territory, and perhaps for good reason: Dramatically speaking, it’s pretty hard to get it wrong. You strand characters in the harsh wilderness. They experience hardship. Eventually they learn to face mortality with some measure of grace. They make it out, or they don’t. The Grey is the more genre-typical of the two films and draws more readily from those aspects that are common to all stories of its type, with the added attraction of some great camera work and a strong performance from Liam Neeson. The Edge , however, transcends those trappings to offer a more philosophical, character-centered naturalist meditation. Don’t let the overcranked trailer fool you: The difference between the two films is all the more striking if only because their plot points are so remarkably similar, even for a genre that necessarily has to hit a few key points. In both, a plane crashes in a forest, and the survivors are forced to fend for themselves against the elements and wild beasts. While in The Grey , we see a marauding pack of arctic wolves randomly picking off crash survivors one by one, The Edge features an equally bloodthirsty grizzly bear. Both films have leaders emerge in the forms of Neeson’s Ottway and Hopkins’s Charles Morse, who each tries to save his respective group from starvation and creeping despair. And in each film there is a character who vocalizes the direness of the situation at every turn, a stock role that should probably be known as the “Game over!” guy, after Bill Paxton’s panicky emergency-narrator from Aliens . Thematically, both films juxtapose the behavior of modern men with the untamed wild, showing that the safety of civilization can be blinding to what is essentially human. The Grey is a lot harder-nosed, preoccupied with the endurance of man as an animal; The Edge , meanwhile, focuses on the ingenuity of man as a thinking being. And while the latter film’s emphasis on reason ultimately makes it the stronger of the two, that isn’t to say that The Edge is all profound rumination. There is still a ravenous bear to be faced, a lot of great action and one of the greatest motivational speeches in film history: The idea that being stranded in the wild eventually amounts to a spiritual boon for those stranded — even as they are exposed to all sorts of peril and privation — is present in almost every survival story. But this theme comes off especially well in The Edge , because as a survivalist, Morse understands that mere survival is not enough. He’s more than just a Robinson Crusoe-figure, whose main goal is to persevere by taming the wilderness. Instead, Morse allows himself to be changed. He doesn’t feel the loneliness of, say, Tom Hanks’s character in Cast Away , or the alienation of the protagonist of Into the Wild — both of whom experience a character arc that could have happened in a different setting. With Morse, Nature itself, and his right relationship with it, is the point. His communion with Nature doesn’t have an ulterior motive, which achieves a strong personalization of a universal idea: Getting right with the material world and, in the process, regaining his own humanity. Nathan Pensky is an associate editor at PopMatters and a contributor at Forbes , among various other outlets. He can be found on Tumblr and Twitter as well.
Sylvester Stallone may be the busiest aging action icon today (sorry Chuck Norris). In between adapting Rocky into German musical format and posing for photos on the set of Expendables 2 , Sylvester Stallone just finished filming Bullet to the Head . The New Orleans-set action movie stars Sly as a musclebound hitman who teams up with a young NYPD detective (Sung Kang) to investigate a pair of murders and naturally, exact revenge on anyone who stands in their way. Fortunately for us, the first caption-worthy photo from Bullet to the Head has arrived.
