Ireland Baldwin’s Social Media Rollercoaster
After the tragic mishap on the “Rust” set—where a gun mishap claimed cinematographer Haylna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza—Ireland Baldwin, the 26‑year‑old model and daughter of Alec, found herself in the middle of a storm of threatening comments, abusive emails, text messages, and voicemails. She had to remember that the internet can be a cruel place, but it can also be a surprisingly heart‑warming one.
A Fan’s Unexpected Gift
On Instagram, Ireland shared a screenshot of a comment from a fan who had worked on the production of Alec’s 2000 children’s hit, “Thomas and the Magic Railroad.” The fan recalled a humorous detail—a “milk and cereal” rider for Alec’s hotel room when his daughter visited.
- The fan wrote: “That was it. That was the whole rider. I’ll always remember that.”
- Underneath, Ireland posted: “Among all the most abhorrent and threatening messages I’ve received… this beautiful comment stands alone.”
In a heart‑felt caption, she thanked her dad and declared: “I know my dad, you simply don’t. I love you, Dad.” This moment of positivity helped her feel a little less isolated amid the negative volley.
Taking a Short Break from the Digital Crowd
Earlier in the week, Ireland announced a social media hiatus. She shared a video of her mother, Kim Basinger, doing a playful “goth bar” dance routine—a little “video gift” for followers—while promising to resume posting once her mandatory updates were done in the next week.
She wrote, in weary yet hopeful tone: “It’s been a heartbreaking and weird couple of days. I’m going to take a little break on here other than some required posts I have to post for work in the upcoming week. Thank you again to everyone who’s reached out and wished me a happy birthday. For now, I’ll leave you with a video of my mom dancing in a goth bar.”
Calling Out Candace Owens
During the chaos, the internet brought up a confrontation with Candace Owens, who had criticized Alec for political reasons. Owens claimed the shooting was “poetic justice” after the actor’s comments on Donald Trump. Ireland got tired of the negative spin and responded with a scathing retort:
- “You are the most disgusting, human, cancerous human being I’ve ever come across.”
- More forcefully: “Regardless of your foul opinions, the fact that you would disrespect the life of a woman who was accidentally and tragically killed… Shame on you.”
She notes that people have the right to hold political views but urges them to remain respectful.
Back to a Normal Conversation
Later, Ireland revealed that she and Owens had actually sat down for a “real conversation.” She shared a screenshot of them thanking each other for the chat. Looking back she said, “Sometimes having an actual conversation can go a long way… [sic].” She uses humor to lighten the recall of a heated clash.
In a broader sense, Ireland’s experience reflects how the media can amplify both the storm and the small, personal moments of kindness that help keep us grounded.
