Movies

Alec Baldwin Expresses 'Shock And Sadness' Over On-Set Death

Alec Baldwin headshot Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images
By Ryan Scott/

Alec Baldwin has released a statement following the tragic incident that occurred recently on the set of his new movie "Rust." A prop gun the actor was handling for a scene was discharged, resulting in the death of director of photography Halyna Hutchins, as well as the injury of director Joel Souza.

Taking to Twitter, Baldwin released a series of posts conveying his feelings on the matter, serving as his first public statement since the news broke Thursday. Baldwin's statement is as follows:

"There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. I'm fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna."

Souza has since been discharged from the hospital. Meanwhile, Hollywood has shown an outpouring of support for Hutchins in mourning her loss. The situation has prompted much conversation around the safety of movie sets, with many recalling the incident that took place while filming "The Crow," which resulted in the untimely passing of its star Brandon Lee.

Hutchins, who worked on movies such as "Archenemy," was just 42 at the time of her passing. An investigation into the matter by local authorities is ongoing. Baldwin made it clear in his statement that he is cooperating with the investigation. While the results of the investigation likely won't be revealed for some time, it has been reported that a live bullet was in the gun fired by Baldwin.

The IATSE Releases a Statement

IATSE We Stand Together logo IATSE

Aside from Baldwin, The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) has also released a statement following the incident. This comes at a time when the IATSE has been dealing with negotations over working conditions on sets, which nearly resulted in an industry-wide strike. The statement reads as follows:

"We are heartbroken and devastated to learn that one of our members, sister Halyna Hutchins, died yesterday from injuries sustained on set while working as the Director of Photography on 'Rust' in New Mexico. Our entire alliance mourns this unspeakable loss with Halyna's family, friends, and the 'Rust' crew. We are activating our partnerships across the industry to provide support and resources to our sisters, brothers, and kin."

The organization also added that "Creating a culture of safety requires relentless vigilance from every one of us, day in and day out." They encouraged members who might feel unsafe for any reason to report incidents to the IATSE Safety Hotline at 844-422-9273, or via the group's safety info app.

We will be sure to keep you updated as the situation continues to unfold.

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