Alec Baldwin to Quit Acting?: Recent Twitter Meltdown Influences '30 Rock' Star to 'Never' Tweet Again, Says He Would 'Love' to Retire from Career

Just a few days after deleting his Twitter account for the third time in less than two years, Alec Baldwin revealed to Vanity Fair that he would "never" use the popular social media network ever again. The actor, who will next be seen on the big screen in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine, said that after this week's controversy he has decided that social media is "all a waste of time." He also described Twitter and the other social media networks as an activity that has been losing its appeal for him. Baldwin also talked about possibly retiring from acting!

Last week, The Daily Mail ran a story claiming Baldwin's wife, Hilaria, was using Twitter during the funeral of James Gandolfini. Here is an excerpt from the story that has since been taken down from the website:

"The pregnant yoga instructor's social media feed was full of upbeat posts while the Sopranos star's friends, family and co-stars were gripped with grief at a New York Catholic church.

"Messages included a request for ideas about wedding anniversary presents and promotional notes about her upcoming appearance on the Rachael Ray show."

Baldwin responded to the writer, George Stark, with a Twitter rant. He said some pretty intimidating things and then deleted his account.

"I went to Jimmy Gandolfini's funeral, and when I was there I realized Jimmy Gandolfini didn't have Twitter," Baldwin told Vanity Fair. "Jimmy Gandolfini was so beloved as a person, and he was so admired as an actor, and he didn't give a f--- about social media."

"It's just another chink in your armor for people to come and kill you," the actor added. "I stopped and said to myself, I'm going to try where I just don't do this anymore."

He talked a bit about yearning to be out of the public eye, and when the magazine asked if he was thinking about retirement, Baldwin replied: "I'd love to if I could, yeah. That would be the greatest thing in the world."