MANILA – Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin has apologized over a joke he made about getting a Filipina mail-order-bride so that he can have more children, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
In a report to the DFA in Manila, Cecilia Rebong, the Philippine consul general in New York, said Baldwin apologized for the racial slur, which had sparked outrage among local politicians and Filipinos around the world.
In her letter to Baldwin, Rebong told the actor that his statement was “derogatory, prejudiced, insensitive and stereotyped Filipino women negatively.”
But despite his apology, Baldwin, the star of the hit comedy show, “30 Rock,” insisted that he was serious when he said he wanted more children.
He is divorced from Oscar-winning actress Kim Bassinger with whom he has a 13-year-old daughter, Ireland.
On May 12, Baldwin made a joke during an interview with US talk show host David Letterman in which he said: “I am thinking about getting a Filipino mail-order-bride at this point or a Russian one. I don’t care. I’m 51.”
Although it was delivered in jest, Baldwin’s remark caused the audience to break into laughter and prompted Letterman to respond: “Get one for me (also), for later.”
The Baldwin joke reaped a harvest of outrage, anger and even threats from local politicians and Filipinos elsewhere in the world, who witnessed the interview following its wide circulation on the video-sharing site, YouTube.
One of those who immediately responded was actor-politician Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who called the actor “arrogant” as he added: “Let him try to come here in the Philippines and he’ll see mayhem.”
He did not elaborate but Revilla, who became popular in his movie roles for championing the cause of the underdog, implied he would personally administer a beating on Baldwin if he makes the mistake of visiting the country.
Revilla is also tagged by local mediamen covering the Senate as a member of the chamber’s “Committee on Silence” for their failure to participate in debates and discussions on vital issues pending before the chamber like Charter change or the law mandating the automation of the May 2010 elections.
But Revilla is now hogging the limelight when, in one of the rare occasions, he took the floor on Wednesday to denounce a controversial cosmetic surgeon for releasing a sex video in the Internet involving a young and sexy local actress.
The senator minced no words in calling the surgeon as a “sex pervert” and a “maniac” whose medical license should be withdrawn by the Professional Regulatory Commission for the release of the sex video without the consent of the actress.
Meanwhile, in castigating Baldwin, Revilla reminded him that Filipino women are not for sale “not even for Hollywood actors” because the Philippines has passed a law against mail-order bride many years ago.
Baldwin joins the ranks of international and regional celebrities who have maligned the Filipino people.
In 2007, the producers of the top-rated show “Desperate Housewives,” apologized after one lead character, played by Teri Hatcher, insulted Filipino doctors.
The British comedy show “Harry & Paul” also ridiculed a Filipina maid as a sex symbol, which resulted in an apology from the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Recently, a Hong Kong-based columnist Chip Tsao likewise apologized publicly for calling the Philippines “a nation of servants.”
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