Alec Baldwin Opens Up About Rust Tragedy, Emotional Toll on His Family: "The Most Difficult Thing I’ve Ever Dealt With" with Wife Hilaria by His Side

Alec Baldwin, 66, is opening up about the devastating incident on the set of Rust, describing it as “the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with in my life.” In an emotional interview, Baldwin reflected on the tragedy that unfolded in 2021 when a prop gun he was handling discharged, resulting in the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuries to director Joel Souza.

Alec and Hilaria with their kids

Alec Baldwin is speaking out about the heart-wrenching tragedy that unfolded on the set of Rust, where a prop gun he was handling discharged, leading to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuries to director Joel Souza. Baldwin described the incident as “the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with in my life.”

Baldwin, who faced manslaughter charges that were later dropped, opened up about the personal and emotional toll the tragedy has taken on him and his family, particularly his wife, Hilaria, 40. As the Rust production nears completion, Baldwin hopes the film will eventually be released, though it will forever be marked by the tragic loss of Hutchins.

Despite being charged with manslaughter, Baldwin maintains that he never pulled the trigger and had no knowledge of how live ammunition ended up in the gun. The case was dismissed in July after it was revealed that crucial evidence was withheld by the prosecution. Throughout the trial, Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria, 40, were visibly emotional as they attended court together.

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin

In the interview, Baldwin shared the profound impact the incident has had on his personal life. “Beyond the victims themselves, the thing that most pains me is what it did to my wife,” Baldwin said, acknowledging the emotional toll the tragedy took on his family.

He also discussed the challenges of completing the film, Rust, after Hutchins' death, despite feeling physically and emotionally drained. Baldwin chose to continue filming in Montana and even waived his fees to support Hutchins' family, hoping the film could be completed and be profitable for its investors.

“I said to Joel, ‘Are you going to do it? If you think it’s important to do this, I’ll do it. If it’s the only way we can settle the case with Hutchins' husband and the estate is to finish the film, let’s do it. So we go to Montana. We finish and I waived my fee. I gave them back the fee in the budget. I waived all my backend. I gave everything to her husband. And I hope the movie is sold, and that he gets his money.

We all made a deal with him and we all want to follow through. But this idea that people — who shall remain nameless — say, ‘You are profiting from this!’ That is absolutely wrong." Baldwin said.

The film wrapped up production in 2023, after Baldwin and the producers reached a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins' husband, Matthew. As part of the settlement, Matthew Hutchins was appointed as an executive producer on the film.

Despite the tragedy that occurred on the set of Rust, the film is expected to be released. After the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the subsequent legal proceedings, the production of Rust continued. Baldwin and the producers reached a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins' husband, Matthew Hutchins, who was appointed as an executive producer for the film as part of the settlement agreement.

Halyna Hutchins

The production wrapped up in 2023, with filming moving to Montana to complete the project. Baldwin himself waived his fees and backend earnings, giving everything back to Hutchins' husband and the estate in an effort to honor Hutchins' memory and make sure the film was finished.

Although Rust will always be overshadowed by the tragic incident, Baldwin expressed hope that the film will be released and that it will be successful, both for the investors and for Hutchins' family.

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