Alec Baldwin reveals his biggest secret about his divorce with Kim Basinger

Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger were once one of Hollywood’s golden couples, a power duo that captivated fans with their undeniable chemistry both on and off-screen. However, their highly publicized divorce in 2002 turned into one of the most contentious breakups in entertainment history.

Now, years later, Baldwin is reflecting on what went wrong, admitting that there’s one thing about his divorce from Basinger that he deeply regrets—and it’s something that still haunts him to this day.

Baldwin and Basinger first met on the set of the 1991 film The Marrying Man and quickly fell into a whirlwind romance. The couple tied the knot in 1993 and welcomed their daughter, Ireland Baldwin, in 1995.

From the outside, they seemed like the perfect Hollywood couple—but behind the scenes, tensions were brewing.

By 2000, their marriage was falling apart, and in 2001, Basinger filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. However, what followed was a bitter, years-long custody battle over their daughter, with both sides slinging accusations and fighting a legal war in the tabloids.

Now, Baldwin has opened up about what he wishes he could have done differently—and it’s not what many expected.

In a candid interview, Baldwin admitted that the most “regrettable” part of his divorce from Basinger wasn’t the marriage ending—it was how the split impacted their daughter, Ireland Baldwin.

"I made a lot of mistakes during that time, but my biggest regret is how much Ireland had to go through because of it. She was caught in the middle of something that had nothing to do with her, and I wish I could go back and shield her from that pain."

During their custody battle, Baldwin and Basinger’s personal struggles played out in the public eye, making it impossible for Ireland to escape the drama.

• The media constantly covered their courtroom battles, exposing Ireland to negative press about both of her parents.
• Baldwin and Basinger allegedly used Ireland as leverage against each other, which led to emotional turmoil for the young girl.
• Perhaps most infamously, in 2007, a voicemail leaked in which Baldwin angrily called his daughter a "rude, thoughtless little pig." The recording became a viral scandal and led to Baldwin facing intense public backlash.

Now, Baldwin looks back on those moments with pain and regret, admitting that his emotions got the best of him.

“I was hurt. I was angry. And I let that anger spill into my role as a father, which is something I’ll always regret. I should have focused on Ireland, not on fighting.”

Over two decades after their bitter divorce, things have changed drastically between Baldwin and Basinger.

• Basinger, who once refused to even speak about Baldwin in interviews, has become more diplomatic in recent years, even acknowledging that their relationship was intense but meaningful.
• Baldwin, now remarried to Hilaria Baldwin, has continued to reflect on his past mistakes and says he has worked hard to mend his relationship with Ireland.
• Ireland Baldwin herself has publicly addressed her complicated childhood, stating that she understands her father better now but acknowledges that it wasn’t easy growing up in their situation.

In a recent interview, Ireland revealed:

“I think my dad has changed a lot. He still has his moments, but I’ve learned to separate what happened in the past from the relationship we have now.”

Though Baldwin and Basinger may never be best friends, they have found a way to co-exist peacefully, something that seemed impossible during their highly publicized feud.

Looking back, Baldwin says his divorce from Basinger taught him valuable lessons—ones that he now applies to his current marriage and parenting style.

"If I could do it all over again, I would have handled things differently. I let my emotions take control, and that hurt people I love."

Here are some key takeaways from Baldwin’s reflections:

1. Don’t let anger dictate your actions – Baldwin admitted that his rage toward Basinger clouded his judgment, and he wishes he had focused more on peaceful co-parenting.
2. Children come first – He now understands that Ireland suffered the most during the divorce, and he regrets not shielding her from the toxicity.
3. Time heals, but words matter – Baldwin says that even though he and Ireland have mended their relationship, some of the things he said in the past still linger in his mind as deep regrets.

Alec Baldwin’s brutally honest confession about his divorce from Kim Basinger proves that even Hollywood’s biggest stars have deep regrets.

Though the marriage ended over 20 years ago, its impact still lingers—especially in Baldwin’s relationship with his daughter.

“Life moves on, and you grow from your mistakes. I just wish I had figured it out sooner.”

For now, Baldwin focuses on his new family, while Basinger continues to live life on her own terms. Though they may never be close friends, one thing is clear: their past will always be a part of them—but they’ve both found ways to move forward.