Alec Baldwin Gets Candid About Divorce and How It Took a Toll on Daughter Ireland

Entertainment
Bente Birkeland
March 3, 2025
6 minutes read

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Alec Baldwin is opening up about one of his biggest regrets—the way his highly publicized divorce from Kim Basinger affected their daughter, Ireland Baldwin. On the March 2 episode of his new TLC reality series, The Baldwins, the actor reflected on the long, painful custody battle and the impact it had on his eldest child.

“One of my most regrettable things about the whole thing was how it affected Ireland,” Baldwin admitted, making it clear that the experience was just as difficult for her as it was for him and Basinger.

The Beetlejuice star explained that Ireland was caught in the middle of the legal war between her parents, and the media had a field day covering every messy detail. The battle dragged on for an exhausting seven years, with financial negotiations taking about a year and a half, while the rest was all about custody. “It was just insanity and really tough,” he recalled, hinting at how brutal the process became.

Alec Baldwin daughter ireland — (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

For years, Baldwin and Basinger’s divorce was one of the most talked-about splits in Hollywood, with tabloids constantly speculating about their relationship and Ireland’s well-being. Baldwin has previously spoken about his frustration with how the media handled the situation, but in this latest reflection, he seemed more focused on the personal toll it took on his daughter.

Now at 29, Ireland has built her own life in the public eye as a model and actress. Baldwin shared that despite everything, they have a strong relationship today, and she’s been supportive of his life with his current wife, Hilaria Baldwin, and their seven children.

“I have a good relationship with her, and she loves the kids,” he said, acknowledging that while she’s close with her half-siblings, she doesn’t necessarily feel like part of their tight-knit group.

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“Ireland is sweet to them and is their older sister, but she isn’t in that pack,” he explained, suggesting that, while there’s love, there’s also some emotional and physical distance between them.

Baldwin’s divorce from Basinger was one of the most bitter Hollywood breakups of its time, but over the years, he has tried to mend the wounds left behind. His honesty about how it impacted Ireland is a rare glimpse into how celebrity custody battles don’t just affect the parents, but the children who get caught in between.