The organisers of Melbourne's La Dolce Italia Festival haven't ruled out taking legal action against Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin, who has pulled out of the event.
The Emmy-winning actor was due to travel to Australia this month but unexpectedly cancelled his appearance at the festival's charity Gala at the Palladium at Crown Casino.
Event organiser Connie Paglianiti said Baldwin had already been paid two-thirds of his appearance fee, which remains confidential.
"The last instalment was supposed to be now," she told AAP.
He had offered no reason for the cancellation and the first priority was to get the event back on track and find a replacement guest.
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"If there is going to be any legal action that'll be thought of down the track," Paglianiti said.
Offers have been made to a "couple" of other potential guests, with organisers hoping to reschedule the event for June or early July.
Paglianiti said the response from ticket holders had been surprisingly good.
"I have had not one person in Australia that's been upset," she said.
Baldwin was to be the face of the 2016 Dolce Italia festival, flying in for a quick visit from February 26-28. Italian film goddess Sophia Loren held the honour last year.
But early on Thursday organiser Eventcepts released a statement advising the former 30 Rock star was no longer appearing.
"It is with great disappointment that we must announce the unexpected cancellation of Alec Baldwin's attendance," the statement read.
The gala is to support Bully Zero, a national charity committed to introducing a culture of zero-tolerance of bullying.
Organisers said they were negotiating with an "equally, if not more, famous Hollywood star" to replace Baldwin.
