Alec Baldwin says Americans are 'uninformed' and 'know little or nothing' about world issues at Torino festival

Alec Baldwin claimed that Americans are 'uninformed' while appearing at the 42nd Torino Film Festival in Turin, Italy on Monday.

The Rust actor, 66, gave his scathing assessment of the American worldview, stating that Americans 'know little or nothing' about world issues during a press conference.

'There's a hole, a vacuum... a gap in information for Americans,' he said in a clip shared by The Hollywood Reporter on X.  

'Americans are very uninformed about reality, what's really going on — climate change, Ukraine, you name it. The biggest topics in the world, Americans have an appetite for a little bit of information.'

'You know what's going on from the news, but information in America is driven by money. It's a business.' 

He went on to say that the vacuum is 'filled by the film industry. Not just the independent film industry, not just the documentary film industry but narrative films as well.'

The father-of-eight was honored with the Lifetime award at the festival.

He appeared at the press conference on the condition that questions about the fatal Rust shooting, where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed, would not be permitted, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Rust ceased production after a prop gun held by the Still Alice star went off on October 21, 2021, killing cinematographer Halyna and wounding director Joel Souza. 

During the conference he was also asked about his hopes and concerns for Donald Trump's administration, and he said that there 'are many challenges to face.'

The Golden Globe Award winner listed 'the environment, the problem of plastic, of permafrost' as 'real problems to solve.'

He then mentioned the need for using more renewable energy sources like solar power. However, he believes that we can't completely stop using oil and gas, especially for things like emergency vehicles that need to be ready to go at any time.

Elsewhere during the conference he was asked about the importance of female directors, with the actor stating he believes it's 'a good thing' that more women are behind the camera nowadays.

He adds, 'Of course, for some films you need an energetic director who moves the camera continuously and maybe a male director is better: But for a comedy or a drama with a lot of talk, what's the difference between a male director and a female director?'

The actor put his best foot forward as he posed for photographers in Turin amid claims he is trying to rescue his career after the fatal shooting in 2021. 

The star looked dapper in a pair of charcoal grey trousers and a navy blazer with a matching grey and navy striped tie to collect the Stella della Mole lifetime for his acting career.

He went solo for his appearance at the festival, following claims he is using his family to rebuild his reputation through their new reality show.

During the filming of Rust a live round had somehow got into the vintage Colt revolver Alec was holding.

Hutchins, 42, had been demonstrating how she wanted him to hold the weapon when it went off, fatally shooting her in the chest.

In the immediate aftermath the Boss Baby actor said he was grief stricken but denied responsibility and was let off on the charge of involuntary manslaughter on a technicality.

While Alec has been jetting across the world to pick up awards, he was notably absent from the emotional Rust premiere in Poland.

At the event, the wounded director and friends of late cinematographer Halyna gathered in her honor.

The movie premiered at the EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival in Toruń, Poland on Wednesday but without Alec.

The actor is understood to have not been invited to the event due to fears his presence would overshadow the premiere. 

More than three years on from the shooting, the Hollywood veteran is not receding in to the shadows.

Instead, he is in the throes of a multi-pronged attempt to relaunch his career.

He has a new slot on legendary US comedy show Saturday Night Live, a reality TV show featuring himself, his wife Hilaria, 40, and their seven children, and is about to receive a 'lifetime achievement' in cinema award.

And the actor is forging forth with his new reality show despite the ongoing fall out.

The cameras began rolling on The Baldwins – to be shown on cable network TLC – earlier this year, before he had faced manslaughter charges.

A trailer suggests it will depict the chaos of life in the big family at their New York home and the clan have been seen filming outdoor cook-outs in The Hamptons.

Alec and his wife Hilaria share daughters Ilaria Catalina Irena, two, María Lucía Victoria, three, Carmen Gabriela, 11, and sons Eduardo 'Edu' Pao Lucas, four, Romeo Alejandro David, six, Leonardo Ángel Charles, seven, and Rafael Thomas, nine.

He is also father to daughter Ireland Baldwin, 29, with ex-wife Kim Basinger, 70.