Quentin Tarantino has stirred controversy by claiming that Alec Baldwin was not solely responsible for the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust, but that he was partly responsible.
The Pulp Fiction director discussed the deadly 2021 shooting on Sunday’s episode of Bill Maher’s podcast Club Randomattributing 90% of the responsibility to Armsmaster Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, while placing the rest of the blame on Baldwin.
“It’s a situation, and I think I’m honest enough to say, that the gunsmith — the guy who’s handling the gun — is 90 percent responsible for everything that happens with that gun… but but but but but… the actor is 10 percent responsible,” Tarantino said.
He added: “You are a partner in responsibility to some extent.”
Tarantino went on to say that he believes actors should personally inspect their weapons to make sure there are no bullets in the barrel or other problems before using them in scenes.
Quentin Tarantino has stirred up controversy by claiming that Alec Baldwin is not solely responsible for the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust, but that he does bear some blame
The Pulp Fiction director discussed the deadly 2021 shooting on Sunday’s episode of Bill Maher’s podcast Club Random, where he attributed 90% of the responsibility to gunmaker Hannah Gutierrez-Reed while placing the rest of the blame on Baldwin; (Baldwin in Rust)
In July, a New Mexico judge dismissed Baldwin’s manslaughter case after it was discovered that prosecutors had planted crucial evidence in a false case file, effectively hiding it from Baldwin’s legal team.
The extraordinary decision came after a daylong hearing without a jury present over bullets that were intended to be entered into evidence but which Baldwin’s lawyers said were “hidden” from them and “buried” in another case file.
The case has roiled the trial of Baldwin, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter after he was accused of negligence when he accidentally fired a live round on the set of the film Rust in October 2021.
The prosecution wanted to present evidence during the trial that they said showed the firearm “could not have gone off without pulling the trigger” and that it was functioning properly before the shooting.
In April of this year, Guttierez-Reed, the gunsmith on the set, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins’ death and received an 18-month prison sentence.
She is currently serving her sentence in the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility and was scheduled to testify in Baldwin’s case.
In October 2021, Baldwin was practicing a cross-draw maneuver with the revolver when the gun discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin pleaded not guilty, claiming the gun accidentally discharged after he pointed it at Hutchins and pulled back the hammer, causing the gun to discharge.
“It’s a situation, I think I’m honest enough to say that the gunsmith – the guy who’s handling the gun – is 90% responsible for everything that happens with that gun… but but but but but… the actor is 10% responsible,” Tarantino said.
Tarantino went on to say that he believes actors should personally inspect their guns to make sure there are no bullets in the barrel or other problems before using them in scenes; (Baldwin on the set of Rust)
Halyna Hutchins, 42, was a mother of one and an up-and-coming camerawoman when she was fatally shot on the set of ‘Rust’
The infamous gun fired on set that ultimately resulted in the death of cameraman Hutchins
Rust gun maker Hannah Guttierez-Reed has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for the involuntary manslaughter of cameraman Halyna Hutchins
The night before the incident, six members of the camera crew quit because they were concerned about safety.
Baldwin had been charged twice in Hutchins’ death. Prosecutors dismissed an earlier charge but refiled it after receiving a new analysis of the revolver Baldwin pointed at Hutchins.
Since filming resumed in 2021, Rust has resumed filming but moved to Montana under an agreement with Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, who named him executive producer.
The completed film is not yet available to the public.