PUBLIC OPINION > Alec Baldwin's Paparazzi Beatdown Was Justified
SodaHead Celebs
2012/06/22 16:00:00
Maybe "beatdown" is a little harsh, but there's photographic evidence that "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin got physical with a paparazzo on his way out of the NYC Marriage License Bureau. The photographer says Baldwin rushed at him like a bull, unprovoked, and punched him square in the chin. Baldwin hasn't said much on the matter, except that #allpaparazzishouldbewaterboarded. His words. We asked the public if the "beatdown" was justified.
It looks like Baldwin doesn't have to explain himself -- the public is already on his side. Though supporters didn't seem to care much about what actually happened. They were just happy to see the paparazzi get what was coming. Even by the photographer's account, at worst it was an unprovoked punch. But with the paparazzi, "unprovoked" is a loose term. One commenter wrote, "When you are asked to back off and stop, and refuse, then you become offensive to people, and celebrities are people who deserve a little bit of privacy."
Older Voters Aren't Amused
For younger voters, particularly those under the age of 45, the event was actually a little bit humorous. No one really likes the paparazzi, so it seems like fair game for a nice laugh. But older voters took the matter more seriously. They were more likely to suggest that celebrities choose that type of life when they promote themselves. That doesn't justify an assault.
Girls Get Rowdy
We were surprised to find that female voters were actually more likely to say Baldwin's attack was justified. We expected men to be more gung-ho with the violent reaction. Plus, the tabloids paparazzi shoot for are usually marketed to women. But girls know a good story when they see one, and they're not going to let social graces get in the way of a little street justice.
The Well-Off Wave a Finger
Income had an unexpected impact on how respondents voted. Even though Baldwin is clearly the wealthier party here, lower income voters tended to side with him against the paparazzi. Maybe it's his satirical CEO character, Jack Donaghy from "30 Rock," that won them over. Higher income voters were much more likely to side with the photographer, though the sample size was a little rough.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about Baldwin's beatdown. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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Heptarch 2012/06/23 17:06:03
I've never seen a signed doc where a "star" said "I give up all control over my private life and will let others decide when I should be allowed to have one."