ALEC BALDWIN TAKES BACK HIS WORDS

Nasty Alec Baldwin now say's he was joking when he encouraged New York City tourists to take drugs instead of riding the horse carriages. (READ TIMES SQUARE GOSSIP) The Hollywood actor appeared at a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals event on Wednesday night to highlight the cruelty to the animals involved in New York's famous horse-drawn carriage trade. Dismissing the notion that the tourist attraction is a tradition, Baldwin described other Manhattan traditions from his youth, including drug dealing in the city's Union Square. But PETA boss Michael McGraw insists the actor wasn't urging visitors to break the law -- he merely wanted to show how other New York traditions had died for the good. McGraw says, "He was obviously joking." Baldwin told guests at the bash how he would help fund reforms to the horse-drawn carriage industry, if it meant the animals were better cared for. He said, "I don't have a problem with the carriage trade. If they remove all the cars in Manhattan, and build a farm with an acre of land for each horse to graze, I will invest my own money."Passions run high in this issue. ... It's loud and vulgar because they know they are wrong."

KIM BASSINGER HIRES SECURITY TO KEEP EX HUSBAND ALEC BALDWIN AWAY

Kim Bassinger is protecting herself !

Kim Basinger has reportedly hired round-the-clock protection to keep ex-husband Alec Baldwin from their 11-year-old daughter.According to the New York Post, the Oscar-winning actress stepped up security around her Los Angeles home after Baldwin called daughter Ireland a "rude, thoughtless little pig" during a recorded telephone conversation.The actor has since apologized publicly and in private to his daughter after the conversion was leaked on the Internet. A friend of Baldwin's tells the Post, "This is a desperate plea for sympathy when the only danger to the child is inside her own home."What kind of parent leaks a voicemail that causes her daughter significant embarrassment and unneeded attention?"Baldwin has been barred from seeing his daughter until a May 4 court date.His spokesman says, "Alec truly cares about the best interests of his daughter."In related news, Baldwin is taking legal action to find out who leaked the rant to TMZ.com. Baldwin has filed Order to Show Cause papers in Los Angeles Superior Court, to find out why his ex-wife Kim Basinger and her lawyers should not be held in contempt.The papers, filed by Baldwin's lawyer Vicki Greene, state: "Petitioner (Basinger) is the only parent with custody, possession and control of the minor child's telephone voicemail message that was dissemination to (TMZ.com founder) Harvey Levin and TMZ.com. "I do not know how Mr. Levin received any information about the court proceeding that was closed to the public, but again, it had to come from someone connected to the proceeding, and it was not me."TMZ.com is refusing to comment on how it obtained the recording.