A Hat Trick of Abuse

Unless you live on another planet, you’ve no doubt heard the phone message that Alec Baldwin left for his 11-year-old daughter. For all you extra-terrestrials out there, let me briefly recap.

Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger are involved in a very messy divorce. He recently called his daughter and left a phone message for her that was nothing short of berating. How do we know this? We know this because someone released the message to the media, where it’s been played ad nauseam.

It is suspected that Ms. Basinger released the message in order to hurt Mr. Baldwin, as they seem to be bent on destroying each other as well as their marriage. Unfortunately, neither is protecting the daughter in this battle. In fact, the daughter is more of a weapon to be used by either side as they seek opportunities to hurt each other.

Alec Baldwin is being vilified as a result of the phone message -- as well he should be. In my opinion, the way he spoke to his daughter is firmly in the realm of abuse. But his abuse is only the first goal in a hat trick of abuse. Releasing the message to the media was also abusive to the daughter, as was the media’s airing of the message. Have we so drifted so far from recognition of abusive behavior toward children that we actually use abuse to expose abuse? Clearly, in this instance, the answer is yes.