Actor Alec Baldwin delivered jokes and praises for the activism and advocacy of the night’s honorees while serving as the master of ceremonies for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights 2021 Ripple of Hope Gala on Thursday night.

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Held at the New York Hilton Midtown Manhattan Hotel, the event marked Baldwin’s first public appearance since the ‘Rust’ shooting, reports Hollywood Reporter.

A revolver fired by Baldwin during a “Rust” rehearsal on Oct. 21 killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and left a projectile lodged in the shoulder of director Joel Souza, for doctors later to remove. s, investigators say.

Vice President Kamala Harris served as the gala’s keynote speaker, with numerous members of the Kennedy family in attendance.

Baldwin began the evening by welcoming the crowd with a joke. “I have six kids. Anything to get out of the house for 30 minutes,” he said before speaking briefly about the life and legacy of Robert F. Kennedy, who the actor declared “urges us to make gentle the light of the world.”

“We will celebrate these extraordinary honorees and recommit ourselves to what Bobby said when he announced his presidential bid, ‘Peace, justice and compassion.’”

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When RFK Human Rights president Kerry Kennedy took the stage shortly after to discuss the work of the organization and legacy of RFK, she started by lauding Baldwin, telling the crowd of more than 700 vaccinated and tested in-person attendees.

“In your good times and bad and his good times and bad, he always shows up,” he said.

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Kennedy recalled initially meeting Baldwin in the ’80s at a cocktail party, before reaching out to him to see if he would attend a charity golf tournament.