Philippine Senator Threatens To Beat Alec Baldwin Over Joke

MANILA, Philippines — Alec Baldwin's joke about getting a Filipino mail-order bride provoked a sharp response in the Philippines, with one senator saying Monday that the "30 Rock" star faces violence if he ever visits.

Baldwin, 51, who is divorced with a teenage daughter, said in a May 12 interview on "The Late Show" with David Letterman that he would love to have more children.

The Emmy-winning actor quipped that he was "thinking about getting a Filipino mail-order bride at this point ... or a Russian one."

Baldwin has been involved in a bitter dispute with his ex-wife, Oscar-winning actress Kim Basinger, over custody of their 13-year-old daughter, Ireland.

Philippine Sen. Ramon Revilla said Monday that Baldwin's comment was "insensitive and uncalled for" and an insult to millions of Filipinos.

He called the actor "arrogant" and said he is apparently unaware that the Philippines has a law against mail-order brides.

"Let him try to come here in the Philippines and he'll see mayhem," Revilla said, using a local idiom that implies the speaker will personally administer a beating.

The senator is a former action-movie star who occasionally still appears on Philippine TV.

Comments

[HoldenLitgo]

Most people are just waiting to be offended about something. This was his chance and he leapt. Next, a member of the Russian cabinet will do a vodka spit-take.

[Beowoof]

Yes, they started the littany years ago. First he wanted to "stone Congressman Henry Hyde, then called his daughter an "ungrateful little pig", and now he has "insulted the people of the Philipines and Russia". When will this man stop the abuse?

[sonnyshook]

Get over it Senator --Its only a joke But the truth of the matter is Philippines, Thailand, Russia etc have a notorious reputation for mail order brides whether you like it or not. Even the content spec-advert on this web page is a Filipino mail order bride website (Bottom right).

[Beowoof]

It's easier to be indignant with Baldwin then to address the conditions that lead to human beings sold as commodities.

[sonnyshook]

true. its always easy to blame it on outsiders

[sockman]

Alec, just pick up a bride on Hollywood Blvd and you won't have to pay the postage.

[Steve Magruder]

So we're not allowed to crack jokes any more, Mr. Revilla? Grow up.

[TimeBandicoot]

Well not as long as your not offended...then it's alright! Does this gray area of human trafficking seem humorous to you? Women selling themselves to live a better life - that's funny to you?

[Justice Wainwright]

ANYTHING can be made funny. Its all a matter of angles. The truth is, it is not the job of comedians or individuals to soften words for the betterment of those among us who are overly sensitive. This country has become way too PC and worried about hurting everyones little feelings.

Just take a look at the words this blog censors in your comments.

Grow up everyone, grow up.

[surlybird]

That's right TB you tell em. How dare a woman want too offer herself for marriage so that she might have a better life. Let her live in whatever squalor she does and like it.

[MountPanic]

"Mail Order" might be outlawed, but internet chat is crawling with Filipinas looking for Americans to marry.

[landoffools]

HEY RAMON, THEY ARE AN INSULT !

[olddognewtrick]

Mighty big talk for a stuttering midget, pilgrim.

[kilgore trout]

Mighty big talk for an anonymous blogger, Pilgrim... I wonder if you'd say that to the Senator's face -- or say, to Manny Pacquiao's face. Maybe small stature, but hundreds of years of history prove that filipinos are tough as hell. There's a reason the Japanese (and the Spanish before them) were never able to subjugate Mindinao.

[Amondale]

Don't MAKE us get all Empirical on yo a$$ again. We saved yer arses cause we needed a refueling station, and don't you forget it.

[ /snark ]

[jeffgolin]

I don't get it. What's wrong with this comment? It may be insensitive to say this, but it's been my observation that many men are being courted by foreign born women on the internet, who end up in many cases I have witnessed taking advantage of them in order to obtain an American green card and permanent immigration status. I worked on a case for one Canadian fellow whose Lithuanian born wife filed divorce papers as soon as she got citizenship and a daughter by him, thus getting to move here and sue him for a huge divorce settlement, and she took the poor guy to the cleaners. If you think this is biased, check Social Security Administration who are well aware of these scams and are taking lots of steps to curb it. There is a lot of labor trafficking from the Philippines these days and immigration is the biggest industry. It is even a government policy, see Wikipedia about this.

[jake106]

Yes, because Wikipedia is a reliable source. Immigration for labor trafficking is NOT a policy of the Philippine government. That is such a ridiculous statement, I'm not even sure how to respond other than to call it stupid.

[jake106]

Well, since I'm married to a Filipina and don't like Alex Baldwin anyway, I'd like to see Senator Revilla beat his buttocks. Although to be honest, I'm pretty sure Revilla would need some help because I think Baldwin has about 60 pounds on the guy, based on the last time I saw him.

Incidentally, a very large percentage of Filipino's are ashamed of the mail-order-bride situation in their country, while simultaneously being able to understand why it happens. The economic situation in that country that makes so many young women seek that escape route is PART of the shame, because they've had two revolutions in the last 40 years that were supposed to start a new era of government, and yet nothing has changed. It breaks their heart to see where their People Power Revolutions has taken them. This is why Senator Revilla is so "sensitive" to the joke. It is a very sore spot for most Filipinos.

And no, my wife was not a mail order bride. I'll get that out there before some chucklehead thinks he will have fun with it.

[hulka37]

2 questions:
- Was it a lengthy process
- Did you get what you paid for

[jake106]

- The immigrations process was horribly long.
-She is worth more than you ever will be.

[TotallyAmazed]

Seems to me more like Baldwin actually shared a compliment on the good motherhood skills of women from the Philippines to me. So he made a reference to 'mail-order' brides - big blinking woop!

I don't tend to take jokes from comics and actors so very serious, and I'm shocked that the Philippine Sen. would get so wigged out over something like this. If this is all the Senator has to get ticked about, he must be living the good life. /TotallyAmazed

[wietog]

HELLO OTHER COUNTRIES! We mean you no harm. This is called COMEDY. Which is based on reality to some extent. Deal with it.

[masha2008]

filipinos are sensitive about perceived insults. they have protested desperate housewives, a comedy show in england, and a hongkong writer recently for putdowns on filipinos. it's just a way of preserving some dignity and not letting stereotypes go uncountered. that said revilla jr is not the best messenger for the protection of philippine women's dignity. he is married and a known w.o.m.a.n.i.z.e.r.

also, in the philippines, you cant do jokes about the president like what americans do in say, saturday night live. politicians get easily sore and they make it plain that such will not be tolerated.

[Peets101]

... In fact, at this very moment, there is an add for "Filipina Women" at www.blossoms.com, at the bottom of this page.

[faith]

They are called "arranged marriages". Young men involved in these marriages are required to go meet the families, speak with government officials and be approved to bring in a marriageable young woman. Yep, they exist. Or, at least one student in one of my classes had us all believing that was what he was doing. It took well over a year.

[punk]

What's wrong with being a mail-order bride?

[Peets101]

The reality is that if you Google "Filipino mail order bride" you will find lots of sites. So what's the big deal? Baldwin didn't create the situation - he just referred to it. Reminds me of how the rightwingnuts get all out of shape when the left refers to torture, as if the reference is worse than the fact.