Years Before ‘Rust’ Shooting, Alec Baldwin Almost Ran His Career Into the Ground After Going Too Far While Insulting a Paparazzi

In a world that can’t get enough of celebrity drama, Alec Baldwin’s 2013 mishap grabbed the most attention as the Hollywood star found himself entangled in controversies and legal troubles.

Just months before his hit sitcom 30 Rock premiered, Baldwin’s career nearly fell apart when he shouted a homophobic slur at a photographer. This public outburst revealed Baldwin’s deep-seated anger and forced him to confront his own prejudices.

Alec Baldwin’s Career on the Brink: The Paparazzi Incident

In October 2013, Alec Baldwin got into a heated argument with a paparazzi who was taking photos of his wife and child. The situation heated up when Baldwin used a homophobic slur. (via CNN)

He was heard saying, “c**ksucking f*g” to the pap. “Get away from my wife and the baby with the camera,” he continued yelling. The video of the incident went viral, causing widespread outrage and nearly putting the NY native’s career in jeopardy.

Due to this, MSNBC, the network airing his talk show Up Late With Alec Baldwin, put the show on hold for two weeks. Moreover, GLAAD, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, called out Baldwin’s behavior. The group pointed out the hypocrisy of the actor, who supported LGBTQ+ rights yet used hateful language.

Baldwin’s initial response was one of damage control. He issued an apology, saying he didn’t mean to offend anyone. However, GLAAD wasn’t satisfied. The group pointed out a potential “pattern of anti-gay slurs” on X (formerly Twitter). The now 66-year-old chose to handle things differently this time.

Alec Baldwin’s History of Public Altercations

Thankfully, Alec Baldwin’s story doesn’t end on a sour note. After the 2013 incident, he adopted a new focus on staying calm and showing respect. The movie mogul apologized with a series of tweets (via CNN):

Anti-gay slurs are wrong. They not only offend, but threaten hard fought tolerance of LGBT rights. I’m grateful to all of the ppl I meet + hear from who recognize that I would never say something to offend my friends in the gay community.

He also said:

1-Rich Ferraro from @glaad informs me that c’sucker is an anti-gay epithet. In which case I apologize and will retire it from my vocabulary.

The paparazzi incident wasn’t a one-time thing. Baldwin has a record of run-ins with photographers. In the past, he has been accused of assault and pinning the paparazzi against a car (via Daily News). These incidents show an actor battling the stress of being famous and dealing with the constant invasion of his privacy by the celebrity world.

While it doesn’t excuse his use of homophobic language, it’s important to understand the reason of his frustration. Also, Baldwin’s trial for involuntary manslaughter dramatically fell apart last week. A judge found key evidence related to the fatal shooting on the set of Rust, leading to the judge dismissing the case altogether.