Alec Baldwin Slammed For Sexual Harassment Complicity Comments: 'We Treat Women Differently'

Actor Alec Baldwin came under fire Saturday after an appearance on PBS NewsHour in which he discussed allegations of sexual harassment in Hollywood, including those leveled against former producer and executive Harvey Weinstein.

“You knew that he was a very intense guy and very bullying guy who was shouting and screaming at people and exhorting them when he didn’t get his way,” Baldwin said of Weinstein. “And last but not least, you heard the rumor that he raped Rose McGowan. You heard that over and over - you heard that for decades. And nothing was done.”

When the reporter pointed out that nobody said anything despite widespread knowledge, Baldwin began discussing the settlement between McGowan and Weinstein.

“Well, but what happened was that Rose McGowan took a payment of $100,000 and settled her case with him,” Baldwin said. “I had no idea until now that she settled the case. And many people have asked the question — the New York Times in fact, printed an article about this, and I found this very compelling — the New York Times wrote an article and said — Do the settlement of these cases hurt the cause of exposing and bringing us to a place of real change? When women take money and are silenced by that money, even though they took the money and were silenced because they were told beyond the money it was the right thing to do. Keep quiet, don’t make too many waves, it’s going to hurt your career. When they do it, nonetheless, does it set back the course of change? — That’s an issue I think.”

Actress Asia Argento, who accused Weinstein of rape, was quick to condemn Baldwin’s comments on Twitter.

“Hey @AlecBaldwin you’re either a complete moron or providing cover for your pals and saving your own rep. Maybe all three,” Argento wrote.

In addition to his comments about McGowan’s settlement, Baldwin fessed up to treating women “in a very sexist way” including “bullying,” “overlooking” and “underestimating” women. Baldwin also said he was from a generation where women were treated differently from men.

“We just innately treat women differently, because men have been in charge,” Baldwin said, adding that it “needs to change.” Those comments drew ire from social media users as well.

“Don’t blame rotten behavior on your ‘generation,’ @Alec Baldwin,” one Twitter user wrote. “In every age some guys are gentlemen and others are boors.”

“Ugh I wanted to like Alec Baldwin!” wrote another. “Is there any man in the industry who hasn’t harassed a woman or isn’t complicit? #losingfaith.”

Others on social media said it sounded like Baldwin was trying to "relieve his conscience."

"I especially feel like that he is trying to relieve his conscience but there is no valid excuse that can justify what happened," one person wrote.