Alec Baldwin is speaking out this week to claim that he is suffering from a number of health struggles. He’s blaming them on the stress stemming from his infamous shooting that took place on the set of his movie Rust.
Baldwin Talks Health Struggles
While appearing on the podcast Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction with host Dave Manheim, Baldwin complained that he’s been left with depression as well as other health issues. He blames this on New Mexico prosecutors filing involuntary manslaughter charges against him for a second time in January of 2024.
“The people I was most concerned about, the people I had the deepest pain for, were my wife and my kids,” said Baldwin, 67.
Baldwin and his wife Hilaria, 41, are parents to eight children. All of these kids are under the age of 13. Baldwin is also father of an adult daughter Ireland, 30, who he shares with his ex-wife Kim Basinger, 72.
“My kids would see me sitting in a corner, I couldn’t even move,” Baldwin lamented. “There was a point in time where I took a nap every day for a year. Right after they announced they were going to raise the charges again.”
“I don’t want to dwell on this. I just want to say that this was very painful for my wife and my family, my sisters and brothers and so forth, my colleagues,” he continued. “And I can tell you, it broke every nerve in my body, spiritually, financially, work-wise, my career, my wife, my kids, my friends, my health.”
“I mean, what it’s done to my health. I mean, if I told you what my health conditions have been since October 21st of 2021. It’s taken 10 years off my life,” Baldwin added. “It’s taken at least 10 years off my life.”
Baldwin’s Alleges Suicidal Thoughts
It should be noted that the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins actually lost her life on the Rust set. She was only 42 years-old. Hutchins was killed when a gun that Baldwin was holding on the set went off. Director Joel Souza was also injured in the shooting. Baldwin walked away physically unharmed.
Despite this, Baldwin is claiming in his latest interview that he suffered from suicidal thoughts after prosecutors refiled charges against him in connection with this shooting. He was first charged with involuntary manslaughter in January of 2023. However, these charges were dropped three months later. Prosecutors then charged Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter again in January of 2024.
“It’s really kind of unappealing to me because to talk about killing yourself and to actually kill yourself are two so profoundly distinctive things,” Baldwin stated. “I think a lot of people — I think countless people think about killing themselves and ending their life, and then very few do.”
“And for me, I remember, I used to lay there in bed and go, ‘Oh God, I can’t wake up another day and have it be the same. It’s the same every day. And I can’t do it,'” he concluded. “But somehow I found the faith in God to, you know, not kill myself tomorrow. Let’s wait one more day.”
Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter case was ultimately dismissed mid-trial in July of last year. This came after the judge found that the prosecution had withheld exculpatory evidence from the defense. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case with prejudice. This means that Baldwin can’t be charged again.
When it comes to the Rust shooting, it’s important to remember that Hutchins is the true victim here. Perhaps Baldwin should remember that before he speaks out on this tragedy again.