Alec Baldwin is reflecting on his difficult divorce from ex-wife Kim Basinger more than two decades after their marriage ended.
On the March 2 episode of the new TLC reality show The Baldwins, the actor, 66, reflected on how the couple’s 2002 split affected their daughter Ireland Baldwin, now 29.
“I must say that because my relationship with my daughter Ireland was so negatively impacted by my divorce from her mother and having a very protracted custody battle that the media really were having a party about everything,” he explained. “[It] went on for seven years, of which the financials were probably a year and a half and then everything else was custody.”
He recalled the experience as being “just insanity and really, really tough,” adding, “One of my most regrettable things about the whole thing was how it affected Ireland.”
From left: Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger.
Steve Granitz Archive/WireImage
Baldwin and Basinger, 71, were married for nearly two decades from 1993 to 2002. Ireland was caught in the crosshairs of her parents’ split when an angry voicemail Alec left for his daughter surfaced, causing him to temporarily lose visitation rights and issue a public apology.
The 30 Rock alum has since moved with wife Hilaria, whom he married in 2012, and the pair share three daughters — Carmen Gabriela, María Lucía Victoria, and Ilaria Catalina Irena — as well as four sons — Rafael Thomas, Leonardo Ángel Charles, Romeo Alejandro David and Eduardo “Edu” Pao Lucas.
Ireland Baldwin (L) and Alec Baldwin attend the Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin at Saban Theatre on September 7, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Comedy Central
The It’s Complicated star said he now has a “good relationship” with Ireland.
“She loves the kids. I mean, she’s very sweet to them, and she’s their older sister, but she’s not in that pack,” he shared. “This is why I think I’m so focused on [oldest daughter] Carmen and I want to have a good relationship with Carmen, because I have a girl all over again.”
Basinger revealed where she stands with Baldwinin a recent interview with Variety.
“Alec and I have a great relationship. I have great respect for where he is today and his family,” said the L.A. Confidential actress, who also starred alongside Baldwin in 1994’s The Getaway and 1991’s The Marrying Man.
“We don’t spend Christmases and holidays or see each other very much. But we talk,” she added. “He’ll pick up the phone and call me, and we have a very genuinely cordial and, I think, loving relationship in a lot of ways, just because we share a daughter and I don’t wish him anything but everything good.”
From left: Kim Basinger attends the premiere of ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on February 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Todd Williamson/Getty
During an appearance on Red Table Talk in 2022, Basinger called her divorce from Baldwin “heavy-duty” and said Ireland “had to go through that very rough time.”
At the time, the actress explained that the former couple did not see “eye to eye” on co-parenting at one point, saying, “We’re all fine and we all get along, whatever … but he’s a challenge.”
The Baldwins airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC. Episodes are available to stream on Max.
