SOTH 1.3

After a painful few years, Alec Baldwin can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The Amagansett resident and father of eight no longer has to worry about criminal charges related to the October 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust. It was confirmed on Dec. 23 that prosecutors in New Mexico would no longer pursue an appeal of a court’s decision to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin. “The state’s efforts to continue to litigate the case in a fair and comprehensive manner have been met with multiple barriers that have compromised its ability to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” a news release said. In a statement shared with “South O’ the Highway,” the actor’s defense attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, said: “The decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning — this was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico.” Dropping the appeal is in line with a former decision made by Judge Mary Marlow Sommer in July, who decided to dismiss the case on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. Still, New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney (FJDA) Mary Carmack-Altwies said on Dec. 23 the FJDA “supports the Hutchins’ family and their continued fight for justice in civil court.” Baldwin was the lead actor and a co-producer of Rust, a Western indie film shot in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Last month, a world premiere of the film was held in Poland, the late cinematographer’s native country. Baldwin was not in attendance. 

Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld had more than one reason to celebrate this holiday season. The couple marked 25 years of marriage on Dec. 25 — a milestone that Jessica acknowledged with a heartfelt message on social media. “Lots to celebrate, especially a remarkable constellation of family and friends who have enriched our lives since before that Christmas Day in 1999 through today. May all your Christmases be bright and your Shamash candles illuminate your homes, our streets and the world,” Jessica posted on Instagram. The milestone caps a big year for the Seinfeld creator and his cookbook-author wife, who became empty nesters in August when their youngest son, 18-year-old Shepherd, left for college at Duke University in North Carolina.

Montauk resident and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy didn’t hold back his criticism of East Hampton homeowner Beyoncé’s halftime performance during the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game on Christmas Day. “Beyoncé has been LOST since Destiny’s Child,” Portnoy, 47, wrote on X, referencing the Grammy-winning singer’s former girl group, which disbanded in 2006. Portnoy’s remarks followed Beyoncé’s elaborate 13-minute performance where she made a dramatic entrance on horseback before taking the stage in a crystal-embellished white bodysuit, chaps, and a cowboy hat. The setlist featured hits from her country-inspired album Cowboy Carter, and included a cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” with country artists Tanner Adell, Brittany Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts joining her onstage. Other highlights included appearances by Hamptons regular Shaboozey for their duet “Sweet Honey Buckiin’” and Post Malone for “Levii’s Jeans.” Beyoncé closed her hometown show with “Texas Hold ’Em,” joined by her 12-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, as one of her dancers.

Scarlett Johansson was backstage at Saturday Night Live for husband Colin Jost and his Weekend Update co-host Michael Che’s infamous joke swap segment, an annual tradition where the duo delivers gags written by each other, having never seen them before. The fan-favorite setup once again saw Jost the target of jokes involving Johansson — and this time, viewers got to see her reaction. Johansson, who appeared earlier in the show’s Cold Open as part of the Five-Timers Club honoring host Martin Short, was comically jaw-dropped and mortified by a series of pointed jokes aimed at her. In one scene, Johansson’s photo appeared on screen. Dedicating the punchline “to my boo, Scarlett Johansson,” Jost quipped that she just celebrated her 40th birthday, “which means I’m about to get up outta there!” The couple own a two-story beach house in Montauk, purchased for $2.2 million, which they have rented out the last two summers for $65,000 per month.

Former Real Housewives of New York star Countess Luann de Lesseps may be traveling the world with her hit cabaret tour, but her heart remains in the Hamptons — her home for nearly three decades. The Countess recently gave Homes & Gardens an inside look at her Sag Harbor estate, a late 19th-century whaling captain’s house brimming with history and personal touches. “My homes are collected mixes of my life. I’m not a big knick-knack person. But when you have beautiful things like ceramics and paintings and things that are family history, it’s different, right?” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be on the water,” she says of the property. “I have a boat there that sits outside of my house, which is a beautiful freedom. Instead of having your car and driving away, you have the boat and you’re driving away into the ocean.”

SIGHTINGS:

Sag Harbor resident Don Lemon was spotted at Mark Ronson and Justin Theroux’s holiday party at the Pebble Bar in New York City on Dec. 18. Amagansett homeowners Seagram’s heiress Hannah Bronfman and her husband Brendan Fallis were also in attendance. 

PR pro Simon Huck, a resident of Montauk, was spotted at the Crane Club, a private club in Manhattan, on Dec. 19 for an event also attended by Dave Grutman and Joe Jonas.

Amagansett resident Andy Cohen joked that he “survived” holiday shopping at the Disney Store in New York City’s Times Square on Dec. 21. Then, on Dec. 25, the TV personality was spotted dining at La Bonbonniere in New York City and thanked the establishment on social media for “staying open on Christmas!”

Hamptons tastemaker Vanessa Gordon dined at the Maidstone Hotel on Christmas Day.

Chef Eric Ripert, who owns in Sag Harbor, enjoyed a snowy morning stroll through Central Park in New York City on Christmas Eve, heading into Le Bernardin, the three-Michelin French seafood restaurant he co-owns.