Too Small

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Alec Baldwin and his family are the subject of a new TLC reality show called The Baldwins.

On February 23, during the first episode airing, the 66-year-old father of eight, Alec Baldwin, expressed regret that their New York City penthouse was too cramped to accommodate their growing family of children comfortably.

A seasoned actor and his younger wife, who’s 41, are the proud parents of seven children: Carmen (11), Rafael (9), Leonardo (8), Romeo (6), Eduardo (4), Marilu (4; yes, twins!), and Ilaria (2). Alec has an adult daughter, Ireland (29), from his previous marriage to Kim Basinger.

Regardless of the vast size of their Devonshire House penthouse, bought in 2011 for $11.7 million as reported by Curbed, the Saturday Night Live actor and his family find themselves living in a space that feels restrictive.

Online, it’s tough to find empathy for the Baldwin family as people on social media have been quick to voice their harsh responses to Alec’s recent complaint.

One individual posted on the X forum, ‘Our family of four brought up three children in a 1,300 square foot, three-bedroom, one-bathroom dwelling. It seems that fellow just requires additional living area.’

In a somewhat ironic tone, they joined the discussion with, ‘Can you even fathom such hardship? Living in over 6,000 sq ft in NYC and yet yearning for more. Wishing you strength, Alec, amidst these challenging times.’

In a different phrasing, someone else said: ‘Even if I shared a home with him, a spacious 6000 square feet residence wouldn’t provide enough space for me.’

A user made a comment about Hilaria, posting on the now-known-as-Twitter: ‘It’s no surprise that Alec Baldwin’s wife has 16 distinct personas, given how busy it must be inside her mind.’

There was also a fan who pointed out that the NYC home has ‘stairs, no less.’

A social media user seemed to suggest Alec’s age by commenting, ‘It appears to me that he might be at the stage of retirement, or as I would put it, he seems ready for a single-floor living.’

Wow, it’s amazing! I can’t even imagine how he manages. I wonder if he could possibly adapt to living in my 1400-square-foot home.

In the year 2012 when Alec and Hilaria exchanged wedding vows, they decided to increase their living space by investing in the apartment next door for approximately $1.2 million.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I expanded my living quarters in 2017 by acquiring an additional apartment in the heart of Devonshire. The stunning studio, valued at approximately $1.3 million, as reported by Curbed, became our new sanctuary as our family continued to grow.

As a lifestyle expert looking back on 2019, I’d say the Baldwin family expanded their horizons even further by investing in yet another studio space. This particular addition to their portfolio came with a price tag of approximately $1.7 million.

Following the submission of city permits, they successfully finished a $340,000 renovation project, merging multiple spaces into a single, unified area.

Apart from their other locations, the Baldwins also own property in the Hamptons. Some scenes for their reality series were shot there too.

During a chat in February prior to the show’s debut, they (the husband and wife) looked back on their hectic life with seven children and assorted pets, discussing it openly.

In response to the inquiry, Alec stated, “This is how we live.” He often playfully comments to his spouse, “Don’t you know where I should be at this moment?

It would be delightful if we were aboard David Geffen’s yacht, sipping a cappuccino, engrossed in a good book, and perhaps dining with Steven Spielberg or others.

Last Thursday, critics weighed in on Baldwin’s reality show.

TIME’s television critic Judy Berman was astonished by how the nominee for an Oscar was facing an intense personal struggle – battling OCD, PTSD, and grappling with existential doubts – all while preparing for his involuntary manslaughter trial related to the shooting of Rust DP Halyna Hutchins, only 10 days prior.

As I ponder over the reason behind our family having seven children, I turn to my beloved Hilaria and inquire, “What was the motivation behind this decision?” She replies with an answer that feels as tender and intricate as a secret whispered between us, “To provide us with the strength and support we need during life’s challenges.” These words from you make me yearn for a show that truly delves into the human side of our lives, rather than just portraying us as ordinary people. It’s like a curious toddler seeking attention from their father, Berman wrote.

The pressure the situation has caused for the Baldwins is clearly noticeable, making it one of the most genuine aspects in this seemingly dull, almost monotonous display of reality television.

In a particular moment, Alec expressed regret by saying, “I’ve never experienced anything similar to this throughout my entire life.” He went on to explain, “Things were entirely unlike they are now before this event occurred. Our lives have undergone a significant transformation, and our kids have had no choice but to acknowledge that. They’ve had to cope with it, adapt to it, in their unique ways.

In a critical review by The Telegraph’s critic Ed Power, Baldwin’s damage-control series was given only one out of five stars. He referred to it as an effort at self-pitying image restoration.

The court case regarding Alec’s charge of involuntary manslaughter was concluded in just three days on July 12, as it was dismissed following his assertion that he never intentionally pulled the trigger on the revolver that discharged a bullet into director Joel Souza’s arm and ultimately struck and killed Halyna.

Hutchins, found resting by the Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s pond, departed leaving her spouse Matt Hutchins and 12-year-old son Andros behind.

On the 9th of January, Baldwin brought forth a civil suit against the prosecutors, investigators, and commissioners associated with the Rust case. The reason for this legal action is allegations of defamation, malicious prosecution, and infringements on civil rights. This lawsuit stems from claims that they ‘mishandled evidence deliberately.’

On April 15, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the Rust armorer, received a sentence of 18 months in prison at the New Mexico Women’s Correctional Facility, following her conviction for involuntary manslaughter related to the incident involving the shooting.

As we transition into the later part of the year, I find myself sharing a meal with my stepdaughter Ireland from Oregon, my 20-month-old daughter Holland, and her father, RAC. It’s these intimate family moments that make each season special.

Alec shared that his bond with his daughter Ireland had significantly deteriorated following his divorce from her mom, as he previously referred to her using harsh words like ‘rude’ and ‘thoughtless’.

Due to the significant amount of time it required to fix that, I believe my acute understanding of my bond with my younger children stems from this experience.

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2025-03-08 09:38