[Update: June 28…The tweets that inspired this commentary were shown to be wrongly time-stamped, and the reporter’s newspaper have apologized for the error, but not before there were some other developments, discussed here. Ethics Alarms apologizes to Hilaria too. The criticism of her is withdrawn; the commentary below about tweeting at funerals, and Hilaria’s husband stands.]
In case you wondered what kind of a woman would marry actor Alec Baldwin during his late career, “mega-jerk and proud of it phase, wonder no more.
Baldwin’s wife Hilaria demonstrated that she is at least as self-centered, rude and lacking respect for basic human courtesies by tweeting her head off during James Gandolfini’s funeral in New York.
It’s simple, really. You don’t have to attend anybody’s funeral (though, as Yogi Berra famously warned, if you don’t go to theirs, they won’t come to yours), but if you do, you are obligated to put aside the petty details of your life for a few hours while you solemnly and respectfully join family members and friends in remembering and honoring the concluded life of the deceased. You don’t spent the time passing notes with knock-knock jokes on them to other mourners, you don’t hum inappropriate ditties, and you sure as hell don’t spend the funeral tweeting inane stuff like like this...
Anyone who is that pathologically obsessed with herself and so incapable of showing due respect to a fallen colleague deserves to be trapped in a room with Alec Baldwin.
Oh…right!
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Pointer, Facts and Graphic: Daily Mail
Ethics Alarms 
Completely unrelated: I do a weekly movie review show. This month, I did “Alec Baldwin Month.” But the first three movies were all movies by his brothers and I pretended not to notice the difference until I’d already shot the review.
Is that being fair to Alec Baldwin?
Since celebrities these days are our culture’s standard bearers of virtue or litmus tests of virtue, this doesn’t bode well.
Have I mentioned the plague of materialism/narcissism that is destroying decent interaction and manners in this country?
Okay, so there was one reasonably excusable tweet in that.
But… gyah. Seriously. Ugh.
Alec Baldwin’s complete and utter meltdown late Thursday was PRICELESS! He then deleted his twitter account (well, some folks see it up, I certainly still can’t) that was scrubbed of the offending tweets… But the internet is forever.
And amusingly…
Really. Wow, you could hardly tell…
Remember…this is the same man who is regularly touted by Hollywood as a possible political candidate despite the fact that he’s shown time and time again that he cannot control his temper. Sadly, as uncivil as DC as become, he would likely fit right in there now.
To be fair, she insists that she had to leave the funeral early, and the tweets were made on the way home in the car. Should be easy enough to find out whether she is telling the truth.
I can’t wait. “Had to leave the funeral early”? If you go to a funeral, you stay for the funeral. Outside of illness or an emergency, what is the reason for ever leaving a funeral early? They are hardly all day affairs. Walking out of a funeral disrupts it. Maybe she had some crucial tweets to Rachel Ray that couldn’t keep.
Let’s say that I’m highly dubious.
She is 9 months pregnant, and perhaps wasn’t feeling too hot in a very crowded venue with hard seats.
Sounds plausible. Or, on the other hand, she just might be the kind of self-centered, trivial-minded, false-face hypocrite that has dominated Hollywood since the 20’s, and finds kindred spirits in arrogant bullies like Alec Baldwin.
Or, on the other hand, she just might be the kind of self-centered, trivial-minded, false-face hypocrite that has dominated Hollywood since the 20′s, and finds kindred spirits in arrogant bullies like Alec Baldwin.
Why does it have to be either/or? Can’t it be both? She may be an arrogant twit, but perhaps her tweets at this particular time frame were not the greatest example to prove that point?
Signature significance.
So, if her pregnancy was a valid reason to leave the funeral, tweeting on the way home is signature significance of something negative?
I believe Jack’s answer below this suffices.
If the tweets occurred while she was at the funeral, they are a terrific example. If not, you’re correct.
Let’s be overly gracious and give her that benefit of the doubt…
Don’t you think she could have tweeted her ailment.
Most people when they leave an event in which leaving would seem inappropriate tend to *excuse* themselves.
If she’s that pregnant, why did she go?
She didn’t think the bench would be an issue? She thought their might be padded seating?
I think erring on the side of attending a funeral is better than just saying “I’m 9 months pregnant. There may be issues. I shouldn’t go.”
I was wondering if they were auto-scheduled tweets, since nearly every one is a content free little promo. Turns out that’s how she actually tweets… huh.
She’s marrying Alec Baldwin… “Content Free” is a job requirement…
http://www.instantrimshot.com
“Since celebrities these days are our culture’s standard bearers of virtue or litmus tests of virtue, this doesn’t bode well.
Have I mentioned the plague of materialism/narcissism that is destroying decent interaction and manners in this country?”
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I have to agree.
Hey, so now that this story has been proven to be untrue, I can assume we get not only a retraction, but a column about how unethical it is to jump to conclusions without checking your facts?
Hey, when it is in fact “proven” untrue, I’ll deal with it appropriately. I’ve read the same articles you have, and I know she claims the tweets occurred after the service (in which case they are still absurdly self-absorbed and bear no hint of having just been to a “dear friend’s” funeral). So the celebrity caught in unattractive conduct claims its all a misunderstanding. It may be, but that hardly qualifies as “proof.” It qualifies as “completely predictable.”
And no, if I had to independent investigate every news item, I’d be unable to examine any issues at all, which would make some people very happy. That’s why the incompetence of the news media and reporters are a prime topic here. We have no choice but to rely on them, and they aren’t trustworthy.
By “proven to be untrue”, you actually mean “the two self-absorbed jackasses claim it isn’t true”, yes?
Alec Baldwin is the poster child for my theory that America is a Pre-Christian culture, more akin to the Classical/Mythological Greek world. Rules are for the little people. They are inapplicable to Titans like Alec Baldwin and therefore his spouse(s).
What does that have to do with Christianity?
There are few things funnier than TMZ’s take on GLAAD’s statement re: Baldwin’s homophobic rant…
GLAAD – Alec Baldwin Gets a Pass ‘Cause We’re Shameless Starf**kers
Posted on this before I saw your comment….
HA! THIS TIME I BEAT YOU!
*cough*
I mean, that’s quite alright, old bean…
What’s even worse Jack is that Hilaria is from Spain. Spain, a Roman Catholic majority country. She surely knows the Church regards the funeral rites as sacred. The liturgy is one of affirming hope in the resurrection. The eucharist, the Body and Blood of our Lord is present. It’s a holy, solemn occasion. Then there is just plain old fashioned respect and courtesy of the deceased and those mourning, and honoring the deceased. At Mass each Sunday, an announcement is made to turn off all cell phones and pagers. It always amuses me. Who would text and email during Mass? Now, I know.