Alec Baldwin recently spoke candidly about the on-set shooting tragedy that has profoundly impacted his career and personal life during an appearance on David Duchovny’s Fail Better podcast. The actor, who faced potential prison time in a high-profile involuntary manslaughter case, shared his perspective on the legal battle, maintaining that crucial evidence proving his innocence would have emerged if the case had gone to trial before its dismissal.
The tragic incident occurred on October 21, 2021, on the New Mexico set of the indie Western Rust. Baldwin discharged a prop firearm containing a live round, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuries to director Joel Souza. Baldwin has consistently denied pulling the trigger. Initially, both Baldwin and the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, pleaded not guilty. However, Gutierrez-Reed was later charged with evidence tampering and sentenced to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter following her trial.
Baldwin’s own charges were dismissed “without prejudice,” leaving the possibility of re-indictment. A year later, a grand jury renewed the involuntary manslaughter charges against him. Yet, in a significant turn of events, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed Baldwin’s case in July 2023. His attorneys argued that prosecutors and the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office had withheld critical evidence that emerged after Gutierrez-Reed’s trial. Baldwin wept openly in court as the case was dismissed with prejudice, ensuring he could not be tried again for the shooting.
“There’s more to come,” Baldwin told Duchovny in their interview. “But this time, it’s my effort to expose what really happened. I was counterpunching before—on the defensive, accused and indicted.” He expressed frustration with how the media handled the case, claiming the press “suppressed every story” that portrayed him favorably and amplified narratives that painted him in a negative light.
Baldwin also addressed the toll of public scrutiny, stating, “The truth of what happened has never been told. People have dined out on this tragedy for three years. In this country, when people hate you at that level, they want three things: they want you to die, they want you to go to prison, or they want you to be ‘canceled.’” He likened being canceled to being imprisoned or even dead, describing it as “roaming the earth while invisible.”
Despite the challenges, Baldwin expressed optimism about his career’s resurgence following the judge’s decision. “I do believe things are coming back my way, and I’m happy about that—I’ve got seven kids,” he said. He also noted his regret that there wasn’t a jury trial, as presenting all the facts to jurors might have been a more definitive resolution.
Judge Sommer’s dismissal was a “very informed decision,” Baldwin said, though he lamented the absence of a full trial to showcase evidence he claims would have cleared his name. He hinted at more revelations to come through legal filings but stopped short of providing specifics.
The three-year ordeal has clearly taken a toll on the Emmy-winning actor, leaving him exhausted but resolute in his commitment to clearing his name and resuming his life and career.