Alec Baldwin has come under fire after sharing a video tribute to his late co-star Sam Neill, with many viewers accusing the actor of making the message about himself rather than the late actor.
Keep reading to learn more.
Actor Sam Neill’s family announced that the beloved Jurassic Park star died unexpectedly at the age of 78 on July 13.
Actor Alec Baldwin then made a video tribute to the late actor and said he was “stricken” by the news. However, his nearly three-minute tribute quickly sparked criticism online.
In the Instagram video his focus shifted, Baldwin opened by expressing his sadness over Neill’s passing before reflecting on their time filming The Hunt for Red October.
Rather than focusing on Neill’s life and legacy, Baldwin spent most of the tribute reminiscing about the 1990 film, describing it as one of the most exciting experiences of his career and recalling working with director John McTiernan and author Tom Clancy.
Only in the closing moments however, he did return to Neill, saying, “My love to his family. Rest in peace.”
The video quickly spread across social media, where many users argued Baldwin barely spoke about his late co-star.
“Forgot this was a tribute to Sam for a second there… well 240 seconds to be exact” one person wrote. While another added, “Was this post even about Sam?”
While another added commenter, “start with Sam and end of a monologue about himself…really” with another simply saying, “What an underwhelming tribute to Sam Neill.”
Others called the tribute “self-centered,” with one viewer commenting that it demonstrated why public memorials should remain focused on the person being honored rather than the speaker.
Neill’s family confirmed the acclaimed New Zealand actor died surrounded by loved ones in a Sydney hospital.
In a statement, they said his death came as a shock, noting that he had remained cancer-free after years of health struggles.
The family thanked the medical staff who cared for him during his final days and asked for privacy as they mourn his loss.
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