In the world of Hollywood, few incidents have left a lasting impact quite like the tragic shooting on the set of “Rust,” which claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Actor Alec Baldwin, known for his roles in iconic shows like “30 Rock,” faced the unimaginable as he found himself at the center of a deeply distressing situation. Can you imagine holding a gun, thinking it was safe, and then realizing the harrowing reality that it wasn’t? It’s a scene straight out of a nightmare, and Baldwin has been grappling with the fallout ever since. Reports reveal that he’s been in a dark place, drowning in survivor’s guilt and battling health issues that have shaken both his body and spirit. His wife, Hilaria, told all in their reality show, exposing the raw emotions and struggles that have ensued. It’s hard not to wonder how something like this could unfold—how does one cope when a tragic accident turns their world upside down? The repercussions are far-reaching, not just for Baldwin, but also for the entire film industry. So, let’s dive into what’s happening in Baldwin’s life post-“Rust” and how he’s attempting to navigate this stormy sea of sorrow and responsibility.
Actor Alec Baldwin was reportedly in a dark place following the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film “Rust.”
The “30 Rock” actor had been rehearsing a scene inside a church when the gun he was holding went off, although he has since claimed that he never pulled the trigger.
It is still unclear how a live bullet ended up inside a prop gun on a movie set, but his trial was dismissed on the third day of witness testimony after a judge determined that the prosecution did not disclose evidence to his legal team and dismissed charges against the actor with prejudice.
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On the second episode of their TLC reality series, “The Baldwins,” Alec’s wife Hilaria Baldwin opened up on the “survivor’s guilt” that the actor has been struggling with following the fatal shooting.
“I found these text messages the other day between us, you know, the day after,” Hilaria told the camera. “And [Alec] said he wanted to kill himself.”
In a confessional, she went on to say that her husband “has survivor’s guilt” following the fatal shooting. “You’re involved in this thing that nobody could even possibly imagine. And so he goes back to that day, he wishes it were him,” she said. “He would change places [with Hutchins] in a second.”
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In addition to mental health struggles, Hilaria says that the “Supercell” actor has also been experiencing several physical elements that include heart problems, fainting, and multiple hospitalizations.
“He’ll never be the same,” Hilaria said during the second episode. “This has affected his health and his mental health tremendously the past few years. All of a sudden, he has started having heart problems. He’s been hospitalized multiple times.”
She also recalled a time that he “fainted,” which resulted in her “shaking him” awake. “It’s hard sometimes,” the former yoga instructor added. “But, you know, hopefully we’re in the hardest but the tail end of it.”
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Even though he will no longer face criminal consequences for the death of Halyna Hutchins, her mother, father, and sister are still filing a civil lawsuit against the actor. According to a filing obtained by TheHollywood Reporter, their lawyers intend to take Baldwin’s deposition on May 9 at their firm’s New York office.
An attorney for the family, Gloria Allred, said, “It is long overdue for him to testify under oath about what really happened that caused the death” of Halyna Hutchins.”
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In a statement obtained by Peoplemagazine, Allred questioned why Baldwin was highlighting the emotional toll that the “Rust” shooting took on him.
“Why is he claiming that he has PTSD?” she asked. “Is his reality show just a veiled attempt to create sympathy for himself with a future jury pool in our civil case? Is this just a shameless attempt to portray him as the real victim in this case?”
Allred claimed that the actor never apologized for the death of Hutchins, stating that he “never called or tried to contact her parents or sister to say that he was sorry, and to this day he has never taken responsibility for Halyna’s death.”
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During the premiere of “The Baldwins” last month, Alec told his wife, “This has been just surreal” when discussing the fatal “Rust” shooting and the subsequent legal turmoil that he has been facing over the last few years.
“I mean, I can’t even believe that we’re going through this, and I always feel more in pain about you than me, because I think to myself, well, you know, I’m going to try to my best to just get through it, and I think what it’s done to you and how much it’s hurt you and everything,” the actor said.
In his confessional, he added, “This past year was just terrible. There were times I’d lay in bed. I’d go, ‘Wow, my kids. I can’t get up.’ That’s not like me. I’m not like that at all, not in any way am I like that. Never.”
Hilaria then revealed that the actor’s OCD has gotten worse since he was diagnosed with PTSD and asked himself, “If an accident had to have happened this day, why am I still here? Why couldn’t it have been me?”