Alec Baldwin Mocked For Appearance On 'Dancing With The Stars': 'Jump Scare!'

Alec Baldwin made a surprise appearance on the premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" to cheer on his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, but the moment quickly stirred conversation, given the actor's ongoing connection to the "Rust" shooting case and his recently dismissed lawsuit against New Mexico prosecutors. Baldwin has been under public scrutiny since facing involuntary manslaughter charges for the 2021 on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, and while those charges were dismissed last year due to prosecutorial misconduct, his civil lawsuit was thrown out just this past July. Despite the controversy, Alec Baldwin was front and center to support his wife during her ballroom debut.

Before hitting the floor with partner Gleb Savchenko, who has stirred controversy of his own due to his ex, Brooks Nader, Hilaria reflected on her past as a dancer. "I used to be a dancer. I had to stop because I broke my hip all the way through," she revealed, explaining that the injury stemmed from "overuse."

In the days leading up to the premiere, rehearsals moved to New York City so Hilaria could stay close to her family. "With one week to go, I'm taking Gleb to New York, where I live. I'm so excited to share this experience with my family," she said. That family included Alec, who surprised the crew by showing up at rehearsals.

On premiere night, she and Gleb took on the Cha Cha to Jennifer Lopez's "Let's Get Loud." Their performance ended with a close-up face-to-face moment that cut to Alec clapping in the audience, though viewers quickly noted his unsmiling reaction.

One viewer summed up the moment bluntly with, "omg Alec Baldwin jumpscare." Another quipped, "Alec Baldwin carries such a strange aura, and it's not just because he accidentally killed a woman… something is just so off lmfao."

Others zeroed in on his demeanor during Hilaria's performance with partner Gleb Savchenko. "Alec Baldwin looks so enthused to be here," one user joked, while another added, "Alec Baldwin didn't look pleased watching his wife Hilaria dancing."

Alec may have kept a straight face, but Hilaria's stepdaughter, Ireland Baldwin, made sure to show her support. In a heartfelt Instagram post ahead of the premiere, Ireland praised Hilaria in a way that caught many followers off guard.

"I wanted to take a second to talk about my step mom @hilariabaldwin," she began. "I think if people actually knew her the way I do, they would be quite surprised. This post may come out of left field since I don't post about her or any family members much. I expect misinformed comments and plenty of comments about me only playing nice so I can secure my inheritance."

Poking fun at that notion, she added, "C'mon, people. I see the comments. I'm not getting an inheritance. I have 7 siblings." Ireland went on to describe Hilaria as someone who has endured a "complex and chaotic upbringing," adding, "Sometimes, she is too loyal to a fault."

Baldwin's presence at "DWTS" comes as his legal battles over the "Rust" tragedy continue to make headlines. The actor was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter after a prop gun discharged on set in 2021, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

In July 2024, a judge dismissed the case against him with prejudice after ruling prosecutors withheld key evidence about live ammunition found on set, misconduct that violated Baldwin's right to a fair trial. Baldwin then turned the tables in January 2025, suing prosecutors, sheriff's officials, and others for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. He accused them of pursuing charges for personal and political gain. That lawsuit, however, was dismissed in July 2025, though Baldwin's attorneys have said they may refile if settlement negotiations fall through.

Meanwhile, the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Her request for a new trial was denied.

Between the courtroom drama and the reality TV spotlight, the Baldwins remain firmly in the public eye.

"She's just going to give it everything she has," Alec said of his wife regarding her "Dancing With the Stars" stint. And while his recent appearance on the reality competition show came with mixed reactions, it also signaled that, controversies aside, he remains determined to stand by Hilaria as she embraces her moment in the ballroom spotlight.