Alec Baldwin's Reaction To Andrew Cuomo's Resignation Has Jaws Dropping
With the news of Andrew Cuomo's resignation as the governor of New York, fellow politicians, public figures, and Hollywood stars have sounded off on the ongoing scandal. Cuomo announced his decision to leave the position on August 10, revealing he'll officially resign as the governor of New York in 14 days, per CNN. Cuomo's announcement comes after a report from the state attorney general found he sexually harassed multiple women during his time in office, allegations the politician has vehemently denied.
"This is one of the most challenging times for government in a generation. Government really needs to function today. Government needs to perform ... and wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing," Cuomo said during a press conference (via The Hill). "I think, given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing. And therefore, that's what I'll do."
Since the news made headlines, stars like Ellen Barkin, Cynthia Nixon, and Ana Navarro-Cardenas celebrated his resignation on social media. Actor George Takei took to Twitter, writing, "Today proved that Republicans and Democrats truly can put aside their differences, listen to their voters, and come to happy agreement over Governor Cuomo's resignation." But while most celebs are in favor of Cuomo's departure, Alec Baldwin seemingly shared a message of support for the disgraced governor. Keep scrolling to find out why the actor's reaction has jaws dropping.
Alec Baldwin calls Andrew Cuomo's resignation 'tragic'
As reports continue to circulate amid Andrew Cuomo's sexual harassment scandal and subsequent resignation as the governor of New York, the number of Cuomo's friends is slowly dwindling. It appears, however, he may have Alec Baldwin in his corner, as the "Saturday Night Live" star shared a message on Twitter just hours after the politician made his announcement.
"Regardless of what you think of Cuomo, this is a tragic day," Baldwin penned on August 10. "Party politics in this country draw ambitious but ultimately isolated, even socially maladjusted men and women who, given the current cancel culture, will likely have their shortcomings exposed and magnified." It wasn't long before the actor received backlash for his statement, with Twitter users calling him out for his choice of words. "So sexually harassing 11 women is merely a 'shortcoming'? Quite a take," tweeted one.
After causing the uproar, Baldwin shared a screenshot of a comment he replied to on Instagram, insisting he's "not seeking to minimize Cuomo's actions" regarding the claims. "When I wrote that this is tragic, I meant to suggest that nearly all powerful politicians are isolated, in the extreme, from reality," he stated. "The people who you vote for in this country in the broader, more powerful elected positions don't give a s**t about you or what you want. They work for their large donors, unions, and corporations. That is how the US system is designed. Powerful people holding onto power."
Alec Baldwin has long defended Andrew Cuomo
Given Alec Baldwin's stance on cancel culture, it's not surprising that he's defended Andrew Cuomo ever since reports of sexual misconduct emerged in December 2020. In March, Baldwin spoke at length about "people going at me for defending people who have been accused of crimes" in a since-deleted Instagram video. Both Cuomo and disgraced director Woody Allen were the subject of the post, with Baldwin hedging that their "crimes" had yet to be proven. "Well, I'm not defending someone who is guilty of something," he told fans (via NME). "I'm choosing to defend someone who has not been proven guilty of something."
Of Cuomo specifically, Baldwin added, "The Attorney General is going to investigate accusations against a Governor. Then, and only then, can we talk about people resigning." Now that the findings are out and Cuomo has chosen to step down, Baldwin hasn't exactly accepted the news gracefully. That said, it's unclear whether this sentiment is powered by his own experience with cancel culture, or by his feelings around Cuomo's job performance as governor.
Alec Baldwin has spoken out about "cancel culture" before
Though Alec Baldwin's comment about Andrew Cuomo took some fans by surprise, it's not the first time he has spoken out about cancel culture. Perhaps the actor — who quit Twitter in January 2021 following the controversy over his wife, Hilaria Baldwin's "Spanish" heritage — is sensitive to public criticism. Either way, Baldwin feels that he's experienced his own taste of "cancel culture," and made it clear he's not a fan. In March, Alec shared a video to Instagram with the caption "Cancel culture is out of control," where he said, "There are people who deserve to be punished for what they've done, but not everybody should be punished in the same way." No one was mentioned by name, but people and outlets like NME noted that the video came on the heels of his defenses of Andrew Cuomo and Woody Allen.
In May, the "Pixie" star followed up his post with a tweet that blasted cancel culture, blaming people for seeking to "destroy the undeserving and deserving alike." "Cancel culture is like a forest fire in constant need of fuel," he wrote. "Functioning objectively. No prejudice. No code. Just destroy."
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).