Alec Baldwin Responds to MSNBC Firing and Decries 'Fundamentalist Wing of Gay Advocacy

Following the utterance of what has widely been decried as an anti-gay slur, Alec Baldwin's MSNBC show "Up Late" has officially been cancelled. Baldwin, who denied that he used the word "f***ot" while recently berating a photographer, spoke out on Tuesday against both his dismissal from the network and the "fundamentalist wing of gay advocacy."

Actor Alec Baldwin (Credit: AP Photo/Peter Kramer, File)

Baldwin told Gothamist that he disputes half of the medias' account of his slur -- mainly that he used a word deemed highly offensive to the gay and lesbian community.

The actor also alluded to the fact that he believes it's unfair that MSNBC host Martin Bashir kept his job after making offensive on-camera remarks about Sarah Palin, in contrast to Baldwin's more private insult of a paparazzo.

"Martin Bashir's on the air, and he made his comment on the air! I dispute half the comment I made... if I called him 'c*****cking maggot' or a 'c*****cking motherf***er'... 'f***ot' is not the word that came out of my mouth," Baldwin said. "That I know."

He added, "But you've got the fundamentalist wing of gay advocacy -- Rich Ferraro and Andrew Sullivan -- they're out there, they've got you. Rich Ferraro, this is probably one of his greatest triumphs."

While he said that these individuals "killed" his show, Baldwin did note that he must also take some responsibility for what unfolded.

Ferraro, who is the vice-president of communications for GLADD, a gay and lesbian rights group, responded to Baldwin's Gothamist interview, claiming that the actor has not been amenable to using the slur as an opportunity "for public education."

Ferraro called the failure to do so "unfortunate."

"I consider GLAAD’s campaigns to end the Boy Scout of America’s ban on gay scouts, raise national visibility of the violence and inequality facing transgender people, and battling for marriage equality to be among my ‘greatest triumphs,’" he said. "But if a teacher, coach, local radio show host, or parent realizes that anti-LGBT slurs are outdated and unacceptable because of this Baldwin issue, I guess we’ll call it a win."

(H/T: Mediaite)

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