Alec Baldwin is being taken to task over his tone-deaf commemoration of Halyna Hutchins’ death.
“One year ago today ...” Baldwin recently captioned an Instagram photo of Hutchins operating a camera.
She was killed Oct. 21, 2021, when Baldwin discharged a prop gun on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set of “Rust,” which the star was producing, near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Ukraine-born cinematographer, wife and mother was 42. The gunshot also left “Rust” director Joel Souza injured.
While Baldwin has received support from celebrities like Leslie Jordan, Cheryl Hines, Lesley Ann Warren and Billy Bush, other people found the tribute to Hutchins strange and exploitative.
“Finish the heading ... One year ago today what? Very cold,” observed user jim.ironchild.
“Seems exploitive given you’re getting all the attention from your fans instead of everyone focusing on her and her poor family,” said coffee_and_thrift.
“Is that the person u shot?” wrote troy17jones3.
Some members of the public stood up for Baldwin, with mr.luquis asking critics, “Do you forget that a life was lost?
“No matter how ‘bad’ of a person you are, the moment you take a life, you cross a line wether (sic) intended or not,” the user continued. “I hope for peace for her family and for yours.”
“Tragedy for all involved,” remarked user barbie_in_my_garden.
Baldwin’s peculiar post came just weeks after he, fellow producers and crew members reached a settlement with Hutchins’ widower Matthew Hutchins in the wrongful death lawsuit he filed earlier this year.
“As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed,” Hutchins said, noting he would executive produce the film. “I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin). All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident.”
Though the shooting was ruled accidental in August, the Santa Fe district attorney last month said it was possible Baldwin could face charges in her death.
Production of “Rust” is set to start back up next year.
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