‘I just want to be a father to my kids’: Alec Baldwin addresses older dad criticism as couple hits back at trolls with puppet video

Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria Baldwin have responded to online critics through a playful recreation of a viral meme that portrayed her as controlling in their relationship. The couple took to Instagram to address these claims in a lighthearted manner, showing they can take such criticism in stride.

The video, shared by Hilaria Baldwin on Sunday, features the 41-year-old standing on a chair while wearing a green dress, wielding wooden spoons as makeshift puppet controls. Below her, Alec Baldwin plays along by acting like a marionette, moving as if being controlled by strings. The performance was set to the iconic song “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Disney’s 1940 film Pinocchio.

According to The Daily Beast, the couple’s response to social media criticism comes as Alec Baldwin, 71, recently discussed the challenges of being an older father on their TLC reality show, The Baldwins. “And for me, as I’m getting older and older, and I don’t want to be tougher. I don’t want to be anything. I just want to be a father to my kids,” the actor explained during the episode. He emphasized his desire to focus on experiencing the remaining years with his family rather than making it about himself.

Hilaria Baldwin acknowledged the inspiration behind their puppet skit came directly from their critics, captioning the Instagram video with “Well, you guys gave me the idea. I just HAD to try it out.” The post demonstrates the couple’s willingness to engage with public commentary about their relationship dynamics in a creative way.

The skit appears to be a direct response to a meme that had been circulating online, suggesting Hilaria maintained a controlling influence over her husband. Rather than responding with anger or dismissal, the couple chose to lean into the joke, turning it into an opportunity for playful content.

As parents to seven children, the Baldwins have often found themselves under public scrutiny regarding their family life and relationship dynamics. Their reality show has provided them with a platform to address these topics more openly, allowing viewers to see their perspective on various aspects of their family life.

The couple’s approach to handling criticism through humor and self-awareness demonstrates their strategy for managing public perception while maintaining their presence in the spotlight. Their willingness to engage with and even embrace memes about themselves suggests a conscious effort to control their own narrative in the public sphere.