Alec Baldwin's Alleged Protest Attendance Denial Before Fiery Altercation Erupted, Claims Source
Alec Baldwin's unexpected involvement in a heated argument at a Manhattan pro-Palestine rally raises questions about his true intentions, as he claims to have had 'no intention' of attending the protest Explore the details of this incident and the underlying motives behind Baldwin's presence
Alec Baldwin did not participate in the rally where he got into a fiery confrontation with a pro-Palestinian protester, according to a source close to the actor who spoke with We.
Baldwin, 65, was heading to Manhattan on Monday, December 18 to volunteer to teach an acting class when he unexpectedly encountered a demonstration. According to a source, the actor had no plans to attend the protest and was not involved in any way. The source further explains that Baldwin was approached aggressively and repeatedly, prompting the police to step in and ensure his safe passage to the class.
A pro-Palestine protest group started their march along 42nd Street from Grand Central Terminal in NYC on Monday, then continued to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Later, they proceeded to Penn Station and gathered inside Moynihan Train Hall in midtown.
NBC New York obtained footage showing Alec Baldwin walking near the protest at West 29th Street. Rally participants noticed him and accused him of backing Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. After multiple altercations with the demonstrators, NYPD intervened to escort the 30 Rock actor toward a building entrance.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to tension in Hollywood. Last month, Melissa Barrera, who played Samantha Carpenter in the latest Scream sequels, was fired from the franchise after making comments about Palestine. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she wrote on Instagram Stories, "Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp, cornering everyone together without electricity or water. People have learned nothing from history and are silently watching genocide and ethnic cleansing happen."
Spyglass, the production company responsible for the new Scream films, released a statement at the time addressing their decision to part ways with her.
"Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or any language that blatantly promotes hate," the company stated to Variety.
Days after being fired, Barrera responded by condemning "hate and prejudice against any group of people." In an Instagram Story, she expressed her belief that everyone, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic status, deserves equal human rights, dignity and freedom, and that no governing body should be above criticism.
Susan Sarandon was terminated by the United Talent Agency after her participation in a pro-Palestine rally where she stated, "There are a lot of people that are afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence." This statement was captured on video obtained by the New York Post.
She later called the phrasing of her comments a “terrible mistake.”
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"I recently took part in a demonstration with a diverse group of advocates aiming to bring attention to the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for action. I hadn't planned to speak, but was invited to take the stage and share a few words," she posted on Instagram on December 1. "This wording was a mistake, as it suggests that until recently Jews have not experienced persecution, when the opposite is true. As we all know, from centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe to the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, PA, Jews have been familiar with discrimination and religious violence for a long time, which continues to this day."
Sarandon, along with several other actors, comedians, and musicians, wrote an open letter to President Joe Biden urging for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. The conflict began after Hamas orchestrated an attack on October 7, resulting in the killing of over 1,200 Israelis. Among those who signed the petition on the Artists 4 Ceasefire website were Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Gigi Hadid, Zayn Malik, Rachel McAdams, Oscar Isaac, Bradley Cooper, Ben Affleck, Kristen Stewart, Channing Tatum, Quinta Brunson, Sandra Oh, and Joaquin Phoenix.
