Alec Baldwin has been condemned for promoting his podcast on Blackout Tuesday and dismissing the social media campaign as a “national day of whatever”.
Blackout Tuesday saw many people sharing black squares on 2 June, with the intention of freeing up the time usually spent browsing social media for people to educate themselves on the Black Lives Matter movement.
However, the actor chose instead to post a picture of Allen alongside a message encouraging his fans to listen to their “candid and wide-ranging” conversation on his podcast Here’s the Thing.
Many of Baldwin’s followers took issue with him sharing an interview with the director, who has been accused of sexual abuse by his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, on Blackout Tuesday.
"I am speechless," wrote one user, while another asked: "Are you serious?"
"Always love following your account,” said a third, “but this is a tone deaf thing to post today."
Allen has always strenuously denied allegations of abuse.
In response to his critics, Baldwin explained he had shared the interview on Tuesday because that was the date agreed upon in advance, adding: “As for the perceived lack of sensitivity re BlackOutTuesday, I have no idea about this… national day of whatever.”
He continued: “Three things: the professional lives of some people cannot be put on hold at the whims of political correctness. I believe Allen is innocent and that is my right. Posting a black screen today or any other day, though a decent sentiment, is not an effective political stance. Voting, and working to enrol others to vote, is more… practical.”
The post did not go down well. One of his followers wrote: “National Day of Whatever is beyond offensive. Given that our ask now is to speak up, I must say, unfollow.”
“And I’m gone,” said another, “you’re tone deaf and the epitome of White privilege ‘national day of whatever’.”
“Your privilege is showing. Do better,” wrote a third.
Baldwin then continued to post about Allen, and shared a message from his daughter Ireland, saying: “Although the black squares are a sign of solidarity, I’m shedding light to the posts that my black activist friends are continuing to post and get out there. I think everyone commenting negatively is missing the whole idea here. defending my dad because I know his intentions and where his heart is at.”
Protests against systemic racism in America have been raging across the United States since George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck.
