Alec Baldwin denies using racial slur during argument with photographer
Actor Alec Baldwin arrives at the premiere of "Rise of the Guardians" during the 2012 AFI Fest presented by Audi at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
"30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin Monday denied using a racial epithet during a confrontation Sunday with a photographer.
"The claim of racist remarks is one of the most outrageous things I've heard in my life," Baldwin said in a statement to Newsday. The actor's spokesman, Matthew Hiltzik, called the claim by New York Post photographer G.N. Miller "completely false" and added separately, "This is totally bogus."
Baldwin, a longtime vocal supporter of liberal causes, tweeted Monday morning, "I find it ironic that my foundation's last grant was $50,000 to the Arthur Ashe Learning Center," the New York City-based nonprofit organization named for the late black tennis star.
The actor, 54, was walking his dog near his East Village home, trailed by several members of the media, when he grabbed Post reporter Tara Palmeri by the arm and said, "I want you to choke to death," the newspaper said. He also insulted the accompanying photographer, Miller, 56, with a racial slur and other comments after Miller allegedly pushed into him, according to the paper.
Baldwin and Miller each called police and filed harassment complaints Monday. The New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task force was looking into the allegations. A Post spokeswoman had no immediate comment on Tuesday.
-- With The Associated Press
