Alec Baldwin Is Accused of Lying About Events on the Set of Rust
Alec Baldwin is being accused of losing control of his emotions and changing his story about the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the movie set of Rust.
In October 2021, on the set of the Western film Rust, Alec Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of the film, was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Hannah Guiterrez-Reed, the movie armorer on set, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, receiving the maximum penalty. Prosecutors blamed Guiterrez-Reed for failing to follow basic gun safety protocols and bringing live ammunition onto the set.
"Rust" armorer sentencing: Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin.
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) April 15, 2024
MORE: https://t.co/AtCtpM8Apu pic.twitter.com/czmhNL7A2o
During the Guiterrez-Reed hearing, many family members and friends gave tear-jerking statements about the loss of their loved one, Hutchins. Craig Mizrahi, Hutchins’s former agent, spoke about his client as talented and a “rising star.” The agent expressed disappointment, stating, “When the producers hired someone with virtually no experience to not only be the armorer but also the assistant prop master, two very challenging positions, they made a crucial decision to put the safety of the cast and crew on the back burner.” Giuterrez-Reed was continually reported as unqualified and understaffed.
Mizrahi continued, “As for Ms. Gutierrez-Reed, it’s my opinion that she should not have held either position, much less both, but that once accepted, the responsibility should have been taken more seriously. Sadly, it wasn’t, and we all know the result.”
According to industry-wide regulations and union guidelines of firearms on film sets, live ammunition should have never made it on set, let alone into the revolver. Mizrahi suggested broad failures by Gutierrez-Reed, as well as Rust leadership, is what caused the fatal shooting.
Should she go to jail while Alec Baldwin walks free?
— Top Conservative (@DocReichenbach) April 16, 2024
Should they both goto jail?
Will Alec Baldwin ever be held accountable for playing with a firearm instead of treating it with respect? pic.twitter.com/2rFsimBAI4
Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter and is scheduled for trial in July. Although pleading not guilty, new evidence of his erratic behavior on set has arisen.
The lead actor and co-producer of Rust was said to have lost control of his emotions on set and is being accused of “frequently screaming and cursing at himself, at crew members,” in new court documents.
Prosecutors have stated, “To watch Mr. Baldwin’s conduct on the set of ‘Rust’ is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him.”
During the rehearsal scene where Hutchins was shot, Baldwin was anticipated to slowly pull his gun out, not to fire it, going against the instructions of director Joel Souza.
Furthermore, Baldwin had claimed he did not pull the gun’s trigger and was told by director Dave Halls that the firearm was “cold,” meaning there was no ammunition in it. However, his statement has been left to questioning when prosecutors accused Baldwin of offering opposing versions of events to law enforcement and media.
The court filings mention Baldwin’s contradictory stories about whether he had pulled the trigger or whether he was taking direction from Guiterrez-Reed or Souza. In fact, it is stated, “In sum, every time Mr. Baldwin spoke, a different version of events emerged from his mouth.”
'Rust' star Alec Baldwin's legal team slammed for 'countless lies,' 'manipulation' as actor battles indictment https://t.co/yKPRysFsdb
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 8, 2024
NBC News also has stated, “Prosecutors alleged in the filing that Baldwin arrived on set on Oct. 12, 2021, one week after filming had begun, causing him to miss initial firearms training offered to other actors. Instead, he had a separate training session during which he was ‘inattentive’ and spent time either on the phone to his family or making videos of himself with guns to send to them.”
Halls has pleaded misdemeanor gun charges and will not be serving jail time. Instead, Halls was handed six months of unsupervised probation. As for Baldwin, we will find out his verdict as he continues to trial in July.
