You might know all about Alec Baldwin’s 2021 controversy surrounding his involuntary manslaughter on the set of Rust, but did you know about the actor’s 2007 voicemail to his daughter? Turns out, back when Baldwin was co-parenting their daughter, Ireland, with ex-wife Kim Basinger, he had sent a rogue voicemail to his 11-year-old kid.
Once again, I have made an a*s of myself trying to get to a phone. You have insulted me for the last time… I don’t give a da*n that you’re 12 years old or 11 years old, or a child, or that your mother is a thoughtless pain in the a*s who doesn’t care about what you do.
This crap you pull on me with this godda*n phone situation that you would never dream of doing to your mother, and you do it to me constantly over and over again. You better be ready Friday the 20th to meet with me.
The voicemail was immediately published by TMZ, where Alec Baldwin could be heard yelling, calling Ireland names, and even blaming his ex-wife. What was meant to be a private moment between father and daughter became a public drama overnight, leading to intense criticism and embarrassment for the actor. The message showed Baldwin losing his temper, which opened a larger discussion about celebrity parenting, anger, and family conflicts.
Alec Baldwin Defended His Phone Threat, Citing Pain of Parental Alienation
Meanwhile, after the leaked voicemail caused outrage, Alec Baldwin came forward to explain his side of the story. The actor released a statement via BBC, admitting that he was wrong to lose his temper, but also said that his outburst came from deep frustration that was a result of “parental alienation”.
Baldwin shared that he had been struggling for years to stay connected with his daughter during a long and bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, Kim Basinger. However, as per his opinion, the actor often faced obstacles whenever he tried to reach Ireland, which made him feel powerless as a father.
Sorry… for losing my temper with my child. [I was] driven to the edge by parental alienation for many years… Everyone who knows me privately knows that I have endured a great deal over the last several years in my custody litigation.
On the other hand, Kim Basinger’s team responded strongly, saying the real “issue is not about Kim or the alleged alienation” but the actor’s “ongoing aggressive behaviour”. Her spokesperson said that Basinger’s only goal was to protect her daughter’s well-being. It was also mentioned that Baldwin needed to deal with his “unstable and irrational behavior” before rebuilding his relationship with Ireland.
Ireland Baldwin Jokes About the Infamous Voicemail After Parents’ Custody Battle
Years later, Ireland Baldwin proved that time really can heal wounds. Eight years after the voicemail scandal, she showed the world that she had moved past the incident and could even laugh about it. In 2015, Ireland shared a playful Instagram post of her and her dad reading a children’s book called If I Were a Pig (via THR).
She captioned it, “If I Were a Pig … I would be Rude and Thoughtless of course!”, which was a clear mockery of her dad’s angry voicemail where he once called her a “rude, thoughtless little pig”. But that’s not all, the 29-year-old actress also told Page Six about how the voicemail didn’t define their relationship, unlike how people thought it would.
The only problem with that voicemail was that people made it out to be a way bigger deal than it was. He’s said stuff like that before just because he’s frustrated. For me, it was like, ‘OK, whatever.’ I called him back I was like, ‘Sorry Dad, I didn’t have my phone.’ That was it.
Over the years, Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger finally found a balance in co-parenting when they won joint custody of Ireland Baldwin in 2004 (via IOL). But it now seems that the 29-year-old is making some changes as she enters a new decade, ahead of her 30th birthday, on October 23. She revealed cutting ties with some members of her extended family.
She wrote in her Subtrack blog,
I move into 30 with a lot less weight on my shoulders. This weight that was brought on by the need to continue to carry my narcissistic, unreliable, addict family members who I thought I needed in my life.
Nothing was more freeing than finally realizing how poisonous these people are. So, I inch into my thirties with an understanding that this is how you break these cycles.
Although Ireland Baldwin seems to have forgiven her father for the insulting voicemail, she’s now trying to carve out a life for herself and her kids by setting boundaries with toxic relatives. After years of struggle over her parents’ messed-up divorce and custody battle, the 29-year-old is taking control of her story.
Let us know your opinions on Alec Baldwin’s 2007 voicemail.
