In the eternal war between the paparazzi and the famous, there really are no winners: sure, the paparazzi overstep their bounds sometimes, but it’s not like the people they’re following are saints. That being said, it’s generally advantageous to both parties if no one is actively trying to punch the other side in the mouth. But Alec Baldwin will be DAMNED if some snide paparazzo doesn’t getting mouthful of Jack Donaghy‘s fists, Saint Patrick and Saint Michael. The New York Daily News reports:
An enraged Alec Baldwin punched a Daily News photographer in the chin Tuesday morning for snapping his picture outside the city Marriage License Bureau. The volatile 30 Rock star popped lensman Marcus Santos once in the face outside the Worth St. office after apparently obtaining a license to wed fiancee Hilaria Thomas. Santos was standing innocently with two other photographers when Baldwin, 54, approached with an angry glare. “He was looking mad,” said Santos. “He said, ‘Step back, step back.’ I said, ‘We’re moving back.’”
Baldwin then grabbed a second News photographer, Jefferson Siegel, and Santos told the Rock of Ages star to back off. “I said, ‘Don’t touch him,’” the 42-year-old Santos said. “I knew he was going to attack me. I stepped back, and he kept coming. “He comes after me, starts shoving and punching me — one time, right in the chin. And then he started shoving me, and pushing me. Then he goes the other way.” Santos, who joined the Daily News staff two years ago, said he filed an assault complaint with the NYPD against Baldwin — whose history of anger mismanagement includes two previous attacks on photographers. Police were investigating, and it was unclear if Baldwin would be arrested.
Look, I think Alec’s an insanely talented and gifted comedic actor, but that being said, that really doesn’t give him carte blanche to fly off the handle like that. And he seemed like such a level-headed guy too …