Alec Baldwin To Be Charged With Manslaughter For 'Rust' Killing

Yesterday, reports spread like wildfire around the internet that Alec Baldwin would be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for pulling the trigger in the killing of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust in October 2021.

In the year since the tragedy, Baldwin has denied responsibility, claiming he was assured on the day in question that the gun he had been rehearsing with did not contain live ammo. Prosecutors, however, are arguing that it was Baldwin's responsibility to check the gun for live ammunition before handling it. The film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is also charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

"We’re trying to definitely make it clear that everybody’s equal under the law, including A-list actors like Alec Baldwin," Special Prosecutor Andrea Reeb said. "And we also want to make sure that the safety of the film industry is addressed and things like this don’t happen again."

Though the tragedy has certainly been fuel for dark jokes at Baldwin's expense, the charge comes as a surprise for many in the film industry and Baldwin's own lawyers, who contend it was not the actor's responsibility to know if the gun was loaded, but rather the crew around him.

"Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun — or anywhere on the movie set," Luke Nikas, Baldwin's attorney, stated. "He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win."

SAG-AFTRA contended, "An actor’s job is not to be a firearms or weapons expert."

Should Baldwin or Gutierrez-Reed be found guilty, juries will choose which of the two manslaughter charges they are guilty of. The more severe charge faces a prison sentence of five years and the lesser charge 18 months.

As viral debates erupt across social media discussing the charges into today, memes and other jokes have also become prevalent online referencing Alec Baldwin, as well as Rust itself. According to reports, the film's production will continue amid the charges, though no release date has been provided still.