The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Alec Baldwin news: Actor in Instagram spat as Rust to resume filming despite charges
Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez Reed and David Halls face charges over the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Alec Baldwin has shared his first family photo since it was announced he faces involuntary manslaughter charges.
The actor, who will continue to film Rust despire being charged in the on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, posted the image on Instagram.
It shows his wife Hilaria Baldwin, and their six-year-old son Leo.
Melina Spadone, an attorney for the production of the western, confirmed the news on Friday to CNN, adding that “on-set safety supervisors and union crew members ... will bar any use of working weapons or any ammunition.”
Mr Baldwin is one of three cast and crew members facing charges over the accidental shooting, New Mexico prosecutors announced on Thursday. Armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter, while first assistant director David Halls has agreed to plead guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon.
A person with knowledge of the film had previously told The New York Times that Baldwin would still serve as the film’s lead and Joel Souza, who was wounded in the shooting, will return as director.
Thursday’s decision comes more than 15 months after the fatal October 2021 shooting, when a gun held by Baldwin discharged on set. A single bullet fatally struck Hutchins in the chest before striking Souza in the shoulder.
Baldwin has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and maintained that he was told the gun was “cold”.
Alec Baldwin shot a woman on set. He’s now facing involuntary manslaughter charges. What changed? 
Alec Baldwin will finish filming Rust as lead star despite involuntary manslaughter charges
The controversy over Alec Baldwin and Rust dangerously misses the point about gun safety
What the charges against Alec Baldwin mean – and what’s next
Alec Baldwin, an armourer and an assistant director: Who is charged in Rust shooting death of Halyna Hutchins?
Eliza Hutton, fiancé of Brandon Lee who died on ‘The Crow’ set, previously spoke out about gun safety
In the aftermath of the 2021 shooting of Halyna Hutchins, Eliza Hutton – the fiancé of Brandon Lee – called for “alternatives to real guns on sets”.
Lee died in 1993 aged 28. The actor and son of the late action star Bruce Lee had been killed during the filming of The Crow after an actor fired a prop gun he believed to be loaded with blanks.
It was later discovered that a fragment of a dummy shell had been left in the gun’s barrel. Lee died in hospital following hours of surgery.
In October 2021, Hutton said: “I urge those in positions to make change to consider alternatives to real guns on sets.”
Eliza Hutton breaks silence on fiancé Brandon Lee’s death after Rust fatal shooting
Lee died aged 28 after an actor shot him with a prop gun while filming ‘The Crow’
What legal experts say about Alec Baldwin’s ‘bold’ charging decision
A decision by New Mexico authorities to bring involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin for the fatal Rust shooting of Halyna Hutchins has been called “bold” and “aggressive” by legal experts.
The charges against Baldwin and other crew members were announced by Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Andrea Reeb on Thursday.
While Baldwin faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the movie’s armourer, is also expected to be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter over the shooting.
The charges against Baldwin carry up to a maximum 18-month prison sentence.
Full story below:
What do legal experts say ‘bold’ charging decisions mean for Alec Baldwin?
District attorney says that charges will be formally filed against the actor before the end of January
Halyna Hutchins’s husband previously said he felt ‘anger’ towards Alec Baldwin
In February 2022, Halyna Hutchins’s husband said he felt “angry” seeing the actor speak about his wife’s death “so publicly”.
“I was angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way, and then to not accept responsibility after having just described killing her,” said Matt Hutchins on the Today show last year.
“The idea that the person holding the gun causing it to discharge is not rep is absurd to me.”
Mickey Rourke says there’s ‘no way in hell’ Alec Baldwin should be charged over Halyna Hutchins’ death
Mickey Rourke has spoken out in defence of Alec Baldwin, saying there is “no way in hell” he should face charges over the death of Halyna Hutchins.
Responding to the news on Instagram, Rourke wrote: “I usually never put my two cents in about what happens on someone’s movie set. It’s a terrible tragedy what happened to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. But no way in hell actor Alec Baldwin should be charged with any negligence whatsoever.”
Louis Chilton has the story for The Independent:
Mickey Rourke says it’s ‘terribly, terribly wrong’ to blame Alec Baldwin for shooting
‘To lay a blame on him is terribly, terribly wrong,’ actor said
Who is charged in Rust shooting death of Halyna Hutchins?
After an exhaustive inquiry lasting more than 15 months, Alec Baldwin and two others have been charged over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust,
Mary Carmack-Altwies, the district attorney for New Mexico’s first judicial district, announced the charges on Thursday.
Baldwin and the film’s armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with involuntary manslaughter, while first assistant director David Halls has agreed to plead guilty to the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
The charges will be filed by the end of the month, Ms Carmack-Altwies said in a statement.
Eliza Hutton, fiancé of Brandon Lee who died on ‘The Crow’ set, previously spoke out about gun safety
In the aftermath of the 2021 shooting of Halyna Hutchins, Eliza Hutton – the fiancé of Brandon Lee – called for “alternatives to real guns on sets”.
Lee died in 1993 aged 28. The actor and son of the late action star Bruce Lee had been killed during the filming of The Crow after an actor fired a prop gun he believed to be loaded with blanks.
It was later discovered that a fragment of a dummy shell had been left in the gun’s barrel. Lee died in hospital following hours of surgery.
In October 2021, Hutton said: “I urge those in positions to make change to consider alternatives to real guns on sets.”
Eliza Hutton breaks silence on fiancé Brandon Lee’s death after Rust fatal shooting
Lee died aged 28 after an actor shot him with a prop gun while filming ‘The Crow’
Alec Baldwin has been posting on his socials in recent days
He shared a photo of his wife and son...
Read more below.
Alec Baldwin shares first personal post since facing manslaughter charges
The actor shared a family photo of wife Hilaria and son Leo
A timeline of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin’s relationship
Over the weekend, Hilaria approached photographers in New York City, while carrying one of her children, to ask them to “leave my family in peace” amid the charges against her husband.
Here’s a timeline of the couple’s relationship...
A timeline of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin’s relationship
The pair have been married for more than 10 years
Video: How Alec Baldwin came to face involuntary manslaughter charges
Baldwin forced to defend social media caption in photo of Hilaria and their son Leo
Baldwin edited the caption on an Instagram post he shared of his wife Hilaria and their son Leo after followers called it “weird”.
On Sunday, the 64-year-old actor posted a picture of his spouse sitting on the floor as Leo stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders. In the caption, he wrote: “The old ‘let me give you a back rub’ ploy.”
He later changed the caption by adding “potato chips to follow” at the end, explaining in the comments that he “adjusted the text. I guess because…you know…there is so much of that Reddit trash out there.”
Read more:
Alec Baldwin defends ‘weird’ caption in photo of Hilaria and their son Leo
Fans criticised a joke that the actor made about his wife and son’s relationship