Alec Baldwin Says “The Trigger Wasn’t Pulled. I Didn’t Pull The Trigger” In Clip For ABC News Interview About Rust Killing

Source: ABC News Twitter

In a trailer for an upcoming ABC News interview regarding the killing of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust, Alec Baldwin claims he didn’t pull the trigger.

Alec Baldwin speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for “The Boss Baby”, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

ABC News released a trailer for the interview on Twitter stating, “Asked by George Stephanopoulos how a real bullet got on the ‘Rust’ set, Alec Baldwin says: I have no idea. Someone put a live bullet in a gun. A bullet that wasn’t even supposed to be on the property.”

The tweet added, “Watch TOMORROW 8pm ET on ABC and stream later on Hulu.”

The trailer appears to begin with Baldwin discussing Halyna Hutchins, the woman and director of photography he shot and killed on the set of Rust.

He says, “She was someone who was loved by everyone who worked with and liked by everyone who worked with. And admired.”

As the trailer goes on Baldwin says, “I mean even now, I find it hard to believe that. It doesn’t seem real to me.”

Alec Baldwin as Alan Hunley in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT, from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

The trailer goes on showing Stephanopoulos asking Baldwin a couple of questions. 

Eventually Stephanopoulos says, “It wasn’t in the script for the trigger to be pulled.”

Baldwin responds, “Well, the trigger wasn’t pulled. I didn’t pull the trigger.”

Alec Baldwin speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for “The Boss Baby”, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Related: Alec Baldwin Calls For Police Officers To Be Required On Film And TV Sets To Monitor Weapons Safety

In a follow-up, Stephanopoulos asks, “So, you never pulled the trigger?”

Baldwin reiterates, “No, no, no, no. I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them. Never.”

Left to right: Alec Baldwin as Alan Hunley and Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT, from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

When asked, “How did a real bullet get on that set,” Baldwin answered, “I have no idea.”

The trailer then cuts to Baldwin saying, “Someone put a live bullet in a gun. A bullet that wasn’t even supposed to be on the property.” 

As the trailer begins to wind down Stephanopoulos asks, “You said you’re not a victim, but is this the worst thing that has happened to you?”

Baldwin answers, “Yes. Yup. Yeah. Because I think back and I think of what I could have done…”

Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, Josh Wood attend 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards after party held at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, Los Angeles, California

Related: Alec Baldwin Issues Statement After Discharging Firearm That Killed Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

An affidavit claims that Baldwin was the one who fired the gun. That affidavit obtained by Deadline states, “As the Assistant Director (Dave Halls) handed the gun to the Actor Alec Baldwin, (Dave Halls) yelled, “Cold Gun,” indicating the prop-gun did not have any live rounds.”

It adds, “The prop-gun was fired by the Actor Alec Baldwin, striking the Cinematographer identified as (Halayna Hutchins) and Joel Souza (Director) who was behind the Cinematographer (Halayna Hutchins).”

The affidavit further states, “The Armorer (Hannah Gutierrez) was given the prop gun after it was fired by Actor Alec Baldwin, she then took the spent casing out of the prop-gun.”

“Joel explained that prior to the discharge of the firearm by Actor Alec Baldwin, they had been working on preparing for the scene before lunch,” it says later in the affidavit.

Alec Baldwin speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for “The Boss Baby”, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Related: Rust Script Supervisor Sues Alec Baldwin, Claims Actor “Intentionally, Without Just Cause Or Excuse, Cocked And Fired The Loaded Gun”

Baldwin is also being sued by Rust script supervisor Mamie Mitchel.

In her lawsuit it claims, “On October 21st, 2021, on the set of the production, ‘Rust’, Defendant Alexander R. Baldwin III (‘Alec Baldwin’) fired a loaded gun containing a live bullet killing Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins, injuring Director Joel Souza, and causing physical and emotional injuries to Plaintiff Mamie Mitchell, the Script Supervisor, who was standing in the line of fire when the gun went off.”

Source: Mission: Impossible – Fallout

The lawsuit also states, “Alec Baldwin intentionally, without just cause or excuse, cocked and fired the loaded gun even though the upcoming scene to be filmed did not call for the cocking and firing of a firearm.”

“Alec Baldwin intentionally, without just cause or excuse, fired the gun towards individuals, including Plaintiff, Ms. Hutchins, and Mr. Souza, even though protocol was not to do so,” it claims.

It further asserts, “Alec Baldwin, without just cause or excuse, failed to check the gun to see if the firearm was loaded.”

Actor Alec Baldwin delivers remarks at 2014 Arts Advocacy Day.
Photo Credit: rep.louiseslaughter, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

What do you make of Baldwin’s claim in this trailer for his interview with ABC News?

Share: 
Mentioned This Article:

More About: