Alec Baldwin to make an apology today on The View

[MissStacey 1]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Alec Baldwin will apologize to his daughter on national television on Friday for calling her a "thoughtless little pig," according to excerpts from a pre-taped ABC interview released on Thursday.

Appearing on "The View" for his first TV interview since he left a ranting voice-mail message to his 11-year-old daughter that was made public last week on the Internet, Baldwin also said he was ready to give up acting after nearly 30 years.

Baldwin, embroiled in a bitter, six-year custody dispute with his ex-wife, actress Kim Basinger, said he wanted to lobby for reforms in divorce, parental visitation and custody laws.

"I would like to devote myself to the cause of parental alienation," the 49-year-old star said on "The View" airing on Friday. He added that he was finishing work on a book about divorce that is due for publication in September.

Baldwin said he has asked the NBC network to let him quit his co-starring role as an egoistic TV executive on the popular sitcom "30 Rock."

But the network indicated it would not let Baldwin out of his contract. "We look forward to having him continue his role in the show," NBC said. The network already had renewed the series for a second season.

Meanwhile, television therapist Dr. Phil McGraw revealed that Baldwin had called him for advice on Thursday and that the two had a "far-reaching, intense conversation" about the actor's daughter and his former spouse.

McGraw, who offered on the CNN talk show "Larry King Live" to counsel the family, said Baldwin had given him permission to disclose that they had talked and that he also had "reached out privately" to Basinger.

Baldwin drew a storm of media attention and public outrage last week when the celebrity Web site TMZ.com posted a recording of a phone message he recently left for his daughter, Ireland, berating her as a "rude, thoughtless little pig."

In the voice mail, Baldwin said he was furious at not being able to reach her for a prearranged phone conversation.

"Obviously, calling your child a pig or anything else is improper and inappropriate, and I apologize to my daughter for that," Baldwin said. "There's nothing wrong with being frustrated or angry ... I took it out on the wrong person."

A Los Angeles family law judge who listened to the tape suspended Baldwin's visitation rights last week and set a hearing for May 4, at which time Baldwin could face further restrictions on his contact with the child.

A separate court hearing was set for June 5 on how the voice-mail tape was released to the media.

[Nagishkaw 510]

I'm touched.

[Mags 112]

Damage control damage control!!!!!

[mybackpages 0]

I missed it! Well there is always You Tube.

[Robor007 0]

No one is buying it, Alec. Oh well, at least he's not going to have to worry about that nasty custody battle anymore.

[Fandango 1,440]

This is a private matter and the media surrounding this is ridiculous. He shouldn't be apologising on the view...that's BS

And tbh, I mainly blame KB. She should have never leaked this.

[Robor007 0]

This is a private matter and the media surrounding this is ridiculous. He shouldn't be apologising on the view...that's BS

And tbh, I mainly blame KB. She should have never leaked this.

You are 100% correct there. The tape could have been used in the custody battle without leaking it to the media. She must be pretty bitter at him. Given how he spoke to his daughter in that message I'm guessing he didn't treat her well. That said, I can't say I'm surprised she leaked it.

[Fandango 1,440]

This is a private matter and the media surrounding this is ridiculous. He shouldn't be apologising on the view...that's BS

And tbh, I mainly blame KB. She should have never leaked this.

You are 100% correct there. The tape could have been used in the custody battle without leaking it to the media. She must be pretty bitter at him. Given how he spoke to his daughter in that message I'm guessing he didn't treat her well. That said, I can't say I'm surprised she leaked it.

I am suprised, cos when two people make a child and the divorce is so bad, both parties should still be focused on the well being of their child and not 'one-upping' each other.

I'm not sat here defending AB....what he did was wrong...but if this is the lengths KB will go to, imagine what she's saying to their daughter. And that is SUCH a peeve of mine. Cos no matter how much of an azzhole your ex is, if he is you child's father/mother whatever, the last thing the other parent should be doing is slagging him/her off. That's your kid's parent! You obviously loved each other at some point and got a wonderful blessing out of the deal, so to try to destroy a relationship for your child because you're friggin bitter is the height of selfishness.

[Emancipation 2]

I'm just trying to put myself in his daughter's shoes.. Uh.. yeah.. Daddy apologizing for me on National TV.. Yeah.. okay.. it's unique for sure

*sigh.. I'm sure there are layers and layers and layers to this case and the history between AB & KB. It's one of those things that us looking on the outside really have a tough time knowing the ins and outs. Should he have talked like that to his daughter? Ahhh .. nope.. But can I understand some of the frustration and difficulties surrounding being alienated as a parent by your x-wife (not my personal experience mind you but hubby deals with it every day). That can take an emotional and mental toll on a human like no other especially when its your children involved..

Unfortunately no court can legislate respect..

[Niels Bohr 72]

Geezes. It's forcing people to watch the view. Why is there a need to apologize to the public? I don't understand. It's his family problems.

[Peikko 1,575]

Agree with Lisa, you don't bad mouth your ex to your kid no matter what the circumstances. I also don't think anyone has the right to judge AB's abilities as a father based on this one tape.

[almaty 19]

i think he is a #######...regardless, of the leak, he called his young daughter a pig...

Edited April 27, 2007 by almaty

[Mags 112]

I admit I caught the last five minutes. I noticed he was STILL getting in little digs about KB. I admit I blame her more than him, from what I have read she allegedly does bad mouth him to their daughter, but he could have chosen to take the high ground with this and just apologised. Shows just how much bitterness there is with this whole situation. It's sad, it really is.

[Robor007 0]

Show me a bitter divorce where the ex's don't bad mouth each other. My parents went through a very nasty divorce after my bro and I were out of the house. It was so bad that to this day they still don't talk to each other or attend family events where the other would be present. Yeah, it's childish and and grown ups shouldn't act like that but what are you going to do? I know it makes holidays a real PITA for me and my bro.

[Fandango 1,440]

Show me a bitter divorce where the ex's don't bad mouth each other. My parents went through a very nasty divorce after my bro and I were out of the house. It was so bad that to this day they still don't talk to each other or attend family events where the other would be present. Yeah, it's childish and and grown ups shouldn't act like that but what are you going to do? I know it makes holidays a real PITA for me and my bro.

But when the kids are young, they still need raising...by both parents.