Alec Baldwin allegedly berates female server at first gala since Rust shooting charges dropped

Alec Baldwin allegedly lost his patience with a waitress while attending his first red carpet event since the Rust shooting charges were dropped.

Alec Baldwin attends first red carpet since Rust shooting charges dropped. Picture: Getty

Alec Baldwin was charming on the red carpet at the 2023 PEN America Spring Literary Gala on Thursday night, but inside the event was a reportedly different story.

A source tells Page Six the actor allegedly berated a female server, leaving her “looking shocked”.

The source claims the drama began to unfold when Baldwin, 65, stood up to chat with someone a couple of minutes before “the line of servers come all at once to deliver the meals”.

Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin attend the 2023 PEN America Literary Gala on May 18 in New York City. Picture: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for PEN America

The couple lend their support to the cause. Picture: Timothy A. Clary/AFP

One female server – who “was probably in her late 20s or early 30s” – was stuck behind the actor because he was standing and talking.

“Then, when she could pass, she started putting plates on the table,” the insider said. “I guess he didn’t like that she did that with him standing there.”

The next moment, the Saturday Night Live actor allegedly started “scolding her”.

After the alleged incident, the visibly upset server was overheard telling someone at the event, “I don’t know why he yelled at me.”

Alec Baldwin chatted to human rights activist Suzanne Nossel inside the American Museum of Natural History. Picture: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for PEN America

Alec Baldwin mingles with journalist Diane Sawyer and TV producer Lorne Michaels at the event. Picture: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for PEN America

“I’m guessing he felt it was rude of her to start putting plates down while he was standing there,” the insider theorised, noting that Alec’s wife, Hilaria Baldwin, was not present for the icy exchange.

“It was quick,” the source added. “I think it went unnoticed for the most part.”

Reps for the actor and the event did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

At the beginning of the night, the 30 Rock star put on a loved-up display with Hilaria, 39, for their first red carpet appearance since his Rust shooting charges were dropped last month.

Honoree Salman Rushdie speaks on stage for the first time since losing an eye. Picture: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for PEN America

The couple intimately embraced each other as they posed for photographers at the event, which took place in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The starry gala was hosted by Colin Jost and honoured SNL maven, Lorne Michaels. A surprise guest was Salman Rushdie.

This was also Rushdie’s first in-person appearance at a public event. In August 2022, he was viciously attacked while on stage at a literary festival in New York, losing an eye in the process.

“It’s nice to be back – as opposed to not being back, which was also a possibility. I’m glad the dice rolled this way,” the novelist, 75, told the crowd after receiving a standing ovation.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission