A recent episode of the TV talk show “The View,” airing on Thursday, March 14, 2024, took an unexpected turn when the conversation shifted towards an incident from Hollywood’s past, sparking a debate that has captivated fans and pundits alike.
The show’s panel, comprised of Alyssa Farah Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, and Joy Behar, scrutinized the allegations made by Sharon Stone about a decades-old incident involving her co-star from the movie Sliver, Billy Baldwin.
The allegations were discussed during a segment of the show where Stone claimed on The Louis Theroux Podcast that late film producer Robert Evans had suggested she engage in a sexual relationship with Baldwin to better his acting in the 1993 film “Sliver.”
On the podcast, Stone, known for her roles in blockbuster films such as Basic Instinct, Total Recall, and Casino, recounted being summoned to Evan’s office from the Sliver set. She recalled the late producer, while pacing his office and wearing sunglasses, gloating about his past sexual encounters with famed actress Ava Gardner. Stone alleged that Evans believed that if she and Baldwin were to become intimate off-camera, it would lead to better on-screen chemistry and help the movie’s success. According to her, this was particularly important as Baldwin’s performance was considered a weak point.
Baldwin, recognized for his roles in films like Backdraft and Flatliners, responded to Stone’s allegations by criticizing her on X (Twitter), saying, “Not sure why Sharon Stone keeps talking about me all these years later? Does she still have a crush on me or is she still hurt after all these years because I shunned her advances?” He has also suggested the possibility of a book release detailing “disturbing, kinky, and unprofessional” stories about her.
Joy Behar derided the premise of Evans’ suggestion, drawing a comparison to the absurdity of having to behead a horse to effectively portray a mafia member in the movie The Godfather, as if such extremes were necessary for acting.
Alyssa Farah Griffin voiced her disappointment in Stone for “needlessly shaming” Baldwin, arguing that public disclosures of such nature serve only to dredge up old controversies. Goldberg echoed Griffin’s sentiments, questioning the value of bringing up the incident from the past, suggesting it was unnecessary on Stone’s part.
Sara Haines commented on Stone’s critique of Baldwin’s acting in the same interview, proposing that Stone might have approached the subject with more subtlety. Griffin speculated on the quality of Baldwin’s acting, unfavorably comparing “Sliver” to the successful movie “Basic Instinct,” which featured Stone and Michael Douglas without requiring a real-life romantic relationship for their on-screen chemistry.
Whoopi Goldberg defended Baldwin by drawing attention to the unwarranted scrutiny he has received from women over time.
Haines and Sunny Hostin added their thoughts, suggesting that Stone’s decision to bring up the incident after so many years appeared more like a desperate bid for attention rather than a constructive addition to the conversation on Hollywood’s problematic past.
This discussion reflects the wider issues the entertainment industry is grappling with as it confronts its history of sexual misconduct and the power dynamics that have allowed such behavior to persist unchecked.
