PRESS RELEASES
Blaming the Victim: Alec Baldwin
Cries Foul by Claiming He Is a Victim of Parental
Alienation (PA)
April 27, 2007 |
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Today the National Organization for Women – New York State,
Inc. denounces Alec Baldwin for his most recent outburst, most
especially for his claims of “parental alienation” as the reason
for the strained relationship between himself and his
11-year-old daughter, Ireland. The custody battle between
Baldwin and his ex-wife, Kim Basinger, has lasted for several
years, but Alec Baldwin is arguing that so-called “parental
alienation” is the excuse for his frequent flare-ups.
Formerly labeled Parental Alienation Syndrome, (PAS), Parental
Alienation (PA) is now the favorite excuse by so-called father’s
rights groups to further abuse protective mothers. NOW denounced
this syndrome at it 2006 conference.
Recent reports have stated that Alec Baldwin has long been
known for his hot temper. Reportedly, he has choked a
pedestrian, screamed at a police officer, and thrown temper
tantrums on sets which have incited his co-stars to quit their
positions. Now added to his list is an angry voice
message, in which he called his daughter “a rude, thoughtless
little pig.” Clearly, the common thread in all of these
incidents is Baldwin and his irrational anger, not a made-up
“syndrome.”
“Parental alienation” is junk science. In order to
excuse their outbursts, many of which have been directed at
children, controlling husbands/fathers cling to a phenomenon
which blames mothers, in foul attempts to identify and excuse
their behavior. According to Dr. Paul J. Fink, Past
President of the American Psychological Association, “PA as a
scientific theory has been excoriated by legitimate researchers
across the nation.” Further, according to an APA
Task Force Report, “Terms such as ‘parental alienation’ may be
used to blame women for children’s reasonable fear of or anger
toward their violent father.”
Reporting on Basinger’s claims, in an article entitled
“According to Baldwin-Basinger: Look back in anger” By Gina
Piccalo and Robert W. Welkos, LA Times, April 27, 2007,
“She alleges that there were several "rage episodes" in
Ireland's presence. She said he once assaulted a taxi driver
while Ireland was in the cab. He is alleged to have called the
girl at school one day as she was about to take a test and
yelled at her so loudly that "some of Ireland's other classmates
heard him," leaving her "embarrassed and very upset." During
another alleged "episode" last spring, Ireland sought refuge in
her room at Baldwin's apartment, crying and sobbing.”
The National Organization for Women-New York State, is
shocked that The View, Bill O’Reilly and other media outlets are
giving Baldwin a forum to spew his lies regarding
so-called “parental alienation.” It has been
well documented that the claim of “parental alienation is a
legal tactic used almost exclusively against women after they
muster up enough courage to leave the men that batter them and
abuse their children. It seems as though it doesn’t matter
that Alec Baldwin has become the poster child for abusive men;
even when his behavior is well documented and speaks for itself.
He is indeed charming, as need be to pull off this behavior.
By giving him sympathy and a soapbox, rather than holding him
accountable for his actions, The View, Bill O’Reilly and other
media outlets are giving him the green light for his
unacceptable behavior.
Currently, Baldwin has signed on to write a book about
“parental alienation” in the name of father’s rights. In doing
so, he will be protecting abusive men and their behavior, and
attempting to manipulate the judicial system of the United
States. Manipulation of the facts is common behavior by abusers.
This is reminiscent of Charles Rothenberg, who set his son on
fire in February of 2005 in order to punish his wife and then
cried, in essence, "she made me do it."
The National Organization for Women – New York State, Inc.
strongly condemns Baldwin’s behavior and resulting claims of
“parental alienation”, while also sympathizing with thousands of
protective mothers and their children who are continually hurt
by claims of this junk science.
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