Ireland Baldwin came out swinging against her stepmom Hilaria Baldwin‘s critics in a candid social media post.
Sharing a lengthy post via Instagram on Thursday, September 4, Ireland praised the new Dancing With the Stars contestant, who is married to her dad, Alec Baldwin.
“I wanted to take a second to talk about my step mom @hilariabaldwin. I think if people actually knew her the way I do, they would be quite surprised,” Ireland, 29, wrote.
Ireland noted that while her post may come across as being “out of left field,” it was not her “playing nice so I can secure my inheritance” as previously suggested by some commenters.
“C’mon, people. I see the comments. I’m not getting an inheritance. I have 7 siblings 😂” she joked. (Hilaria and Alec share three daughters, Carmen, Maria and Illaria, as well as four sons, Rafael, Leonardo, Romeo, and Eduardo.)
Hilaria became Ireland’s stepmother after marrying Alec in 2012. Alec was previously married to Kim Basinger, who is Ireland’s mother.
In the Instagram post, Ireland said there was more to Hilaria than meets the eye and shared details of their bond while praising her stepmom for the effect she’s had on her dad.
“These thoughts have been on my mind since I last visited her on the east coast. Hilaria has had a far more complex and chaotic upbringing than she lets on and I think that’s why we’ve maybe bonded in someways?” Ireland continued. “She didn’t always feel safe and seen. Sometimes, she is too loyal to a fault. She is eccentric and totally bat s*** crazy (in a fun way) but she saved my dad’s life. She turned his health around and has shown him the forgiveness and kindness that he needed.”
Ireland added, “She also recognizes and nourishes the parts of my father that are the most compassionate and wonderful. She’s taught him that he doesn’t need to suffer inside of his own head and stay stuck in his own past. That it’s never too late to admit you need help and it’s never too late to learn to be kind to yourself.”
Ireland, who has publicly endured some ups and downs when it comes to her relationship with her father in the past, credited Hilaria as helping the pair mend their bond.
“Hilaria is the reason I am able to have the close relationship with my father that I do. She is the reason I get to have siblings/a big family that I’ve always wanted. She has always respected me, accepted my flaws, embraced me, and has always shown me kindness,” she wrote. “I met her as a teenager and I needed her as an example. I still very much look up to her now.”
Ireland concluded the post by explaining that she will be in Hilaria’s corner as she competes on the upcoming season of DWTS.
“I am so proud of her for doing Dancing With the Stars and I CANNOT wait to cheer her ass on. She deserves this!” Ireland wrote. “And it’s not my place to share the ins and outs, but this woman is a gem and deserves all the love.”
Hilaria was clearly touched by the emotional post and responded in the comments section.
“I’m crying. I love you with all my heart, @irelandirelandireland ❤️,” Hilaria, 41, wrote. “These words mean so much. You mean so much to me 💙.”
