The world was stunned last month when all charges against Alec Baldwin were dropped in the Rust shooting. Baldwin had been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 death of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on the set of Baldwin’s movie Rust when a gun he was holding went off.
Now, the Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino is speaking out to say that he believes Baldwin is at least partly to blame for Hutchins’ death.
For those who aren’t aware, let’s just say Quentin Tarantino has plenty of experience directing with guns on set!
Tarantino Partly Blames Baldwin
“It’s a situation, I think I’m being fair enough to say, that the armorer — the guy who handles the gun — is 90% responsible for everything that happens when it comes to that gun… but but but but but…. the actor is 10% responsible,” Tarantino, 61, said while appearing on Bill Maher’s podcast Club Random on Sunday.
“It’s a gun. You are a partner in responsibility to some degree,” he added.
Tarantino went on to say that actors must personally inspect their weapons to ensure that there are no bullets in the barrel. (Sportsmen know, you always check to see if a gun is loaded.)
Check out Tarantino’s full comments on this in the video below.
Baldwin’s Charges Dropped
Baldwin, 66, was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury for Hutchins’ death back in January. His trial then began at the beginning of last month.
On day three of the trial, however, Baldwin’s lawyers claimed that prosecutors had withheld evidence. Because of this, they asked Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to dismiss all charges. She agreed and dismissed the charges without prejudice, meaning that Baldwin can’t be charged again.
“There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now,” the actor-producer wrote alongside an image of himself in court,” Baldwin said afterwards. “To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.”
If convicted, Baldwin had been facing 18 months in prison. Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is currently serving an 18 month sentence. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter back in March. However, she is appealing this conviction in the wake of Baldwin’s charges being dropped. Meanwhile, the Rust assistant director Dave Halls took a plea deal last year for negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Related: ‘Rust’ Director Joel Souza Blasts Alec Baldwin After Surviving Shooting – ‘We’re Not Friends’
Baldwin’s Future
Now that Baldwin got off scot-free, he’s filming a reality show for TLC with his wife Hilaria, 40, and their seven young children. They are the parents of Ilaria Catalina Irena, 23 months, María Lucía Victoria, 3, Eduardo “Edu” Pao Lucas, 3½, Romeo Alejandro David, 6, Leonardo Ángel Charles, 7½, Rafael Thomas, 9, and Carmen Gabriela, 11.
Baldwin also shares a daughter named Ireland, 28, with his Oscar-winning ex-wife Kim Basinger.
Full Story: Alec Baldwin Struggling To Film ‘Cheap’ Reality Show After Decades Of Hollywood Fame – ‘It’s A Disaster’
After Hutchins’ death, Baldwin decided to finish filming Rust. However, the production moved from New Mexico to Montana under an agreement with Hutchins’ husband Matthew, who signed on as an executive producer. The finished movie has yet to be released, and it is unknown at this time when it will come out.
This is clearly a very difficult situation for everyone involved. Whether you think Baldwin belongs in jail or not, Tarantino is likely right that actors could take more safety measures with their weapons on film set. After all, that couldn’t hurt!
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