SAG-AFTRA Defends Alec Baldwin Against New 'Rust' Charges
By Kristin Myers on January 25, 2024 at 4:00 PM EST
Actor Alec Baldwin is again making headlines due to the criminal case against the 65-year-old actor in connection with the death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
In October 2021, a gun that the "30 Rock" actor was holding went off, striking and killing the cinematographer. Director Joel Souza, who was standing behind Hutchins, was hospitalized as a result of the incident.
In January 2023, prosecutors charged both Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Gutierrez-Reed was later charged with tampering with evidence after prosecutors claimed that they found a witness who alleged that the armorer transferred cocaine to another person on the day Hutchins was killed. She has pleaded not guilty. Her trial is scheduled to begin in February 2024.
The charges were dropped against Baldwin in April 2023 and filed again in January 2024.
SAG-AFTRA Says It Is Not An Actor's Job To Be A Weapon's Expert Amid Alec Baldwin 'Rust' Charges
Although many feel that Alec Baldwin should be criminally charged for the 2021 shooting of Halyna Hutchins, SAG-AFTRA has come to the defense of the actor, insisting that it is not the job of a performer to know how to handle firearms, especially considering the gun was not supposed to have contained live ammunition and Baldwin did not load the gun himself.
On Thursday, SAG-AFTRA released a statement on their website, stating, "To the extent that the charges filed on January 19 are based on an accusation of negligent use of a firearm predicated on this or any actor having a duty to inspect a firearm as part of its use, that is an incorrect assessment of the actual duties of an actor on set."
"An actor’s job is not to be a firearms or weapons expert. Firearms are provided for use on set under the guidance of multiple expert professionals directly responsible for the safe and accurate operation of that firearm," they continued, noting that "The Industry Standards for safety with firearms and use of blank ammunition are clearly laid out in Safety Bulletin 1, provided by the Joint Industry-Wide Labor Management Safety Commission."
SAG-AFTRA Says It Is The Armorer's Job To Handle Firearms On Set
They go on to explain that "The guidelines require an experienced, qualified armorer to be put in charge of all handling, use, and safekeeping of firearms on set. These duties include 'inspecting the firearm and barrel before and after every firing sequence,' and 'checking all firearms before each use.' As such, it seems that they are putting the blame squarely on armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Her trial will begin next month.
"The guidelines do not make it the performer’s responsibility to check any firearm," the statement goes on to say. "Performers train to perform, and they are not required or expected to be experts on guns or experienced in their use. The industry assigns that responsibility to qualified professionals who oversee their use and handling in every aspect. Anyone issued a firearm on set must be given training and guidance in its safe handling and use, but all activity with firearms on a set must be under the careful supervision and control of the professional armorer and the employer."
Alec Baldwin Wants To Secure His Constitutional Right To A Speedy Trial
On Wednesday, Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel filed a legal motion looking for a speedy trial for their client. According to the legal filing obtained by The Blast, they claimed that Baldwin is “entitled to a fair and speedy disposition of the charges to minimize public vilification and suspicion and to avoid the hazards of proving his innocence that often arise after lengthy delays in prosecution.”
The "Supercell" actor could be facing 18 months behind bars if convicted of involuntary manslaughter. According to the latest filing, special prosecutors allege that Alec Baldwin “did cause the death of Halyna Hutchins by an act committed with the total disregard or indifference for the safety of others, and the act was such that an ordinary person would anticipate that death might occur under the circumstances.”
In a brief statement, Baldwin’s lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, responded to the new charges by saying, “We look forward to our day in court.” The new charges have not stopped Baldwin from making media appearances, as he announced on Instagram that he still plans to attend the FanX ATL Comic Convention this February in Atlanta.
