Michael Stipe partially blames Alec Baldwin for Donald Trump's popularity.
Michael Stipe
The former R.E.M. frontman insists the former 'Apprentice' star would never have risen to become President Elect without the race to the White House being turned into "entertainment", and included the actor's comic portrayal of Trump on 'Saturday Night Live' for helping to "create a monster".
Speaking to Alec on his 'Here's The Thing' radio show before the result was announced, he said: "It is so sad that we have allowed ourselves to sink to this level of really entertainment, that's what it is.
"I blame media completely for it, including 'Saturday Night Live'.
"What does it feel like from inside? What does it feel like playing that character? It's satire, it's brilliantly done, but it's still adding to the push of... Warhol said, there's no such thing as bad publicity. How have we created this monster? How have we put our particular American brand on this thing?"
The 58-year-old actor admitted he was initially reluctant to take on the role after being approached by 'SNL' creator Lorne Michaels because he has no "appreciation" for Trump.
He replied: "When I was approached by Lorne, who is a friend of mine, to do it, my first impulse was 'no.' Because in order to do that effectively, you need to have at least some appreciation of the person ... for which Trump I have none."
And Alec feels "unsettled" by the number of people who have thanked him for offering a "release" with the sketches.
He added: "I have had a wave of people... it's kind of unsettling to me actually how many people come up to me all day long and they thank me because they needed something to laugh about. They needed a release."
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