Daniel Baldwin is coming to his brother’s defense after a fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.”
Daniel, who lives in Central New York, says fellow actor Alec Baldwin is being unfairly targeted because of his political views and celebrity status.
“You know, Alec’s got the name, though, doesn’t he, so let’s go ahead and take Alec for his political views and the many, many wonderful things he’s done for different charities and people and his wife and let’s see if we can’t sensationalize this and go after Alec,” Daniel Baldwin said in an interview with the Domenick Nati Show this week.
“This is what he faces because he’s opinionated and he’s strong-headed and he has really staunch views on certain things and those people who don’t like him will take advantage of him and persecute his wife. He’s a target.”
Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on Oct. 21 while filming the upcoming Western “Rust” in New Mexico. The production has been scrutinized over several issues, including seven crew members who walked off the set hours before the shooting to allegedly protest working conditions and other concerns.
Daniel Baldwin, who’s appeared in more than 140 movies and TV shows himself, shifted the blame to “pros that handle” weapons on sets, like “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez. Assistant director Dave Halls also reportedly handed the firearm to Baldwin and incorrectly told him it was a “cold gun” (a weapon not carrying live rounds).
“Alec, he’s crushed by this. I mean he loved this woman. He loves what he does. And he feels terrible that this horrendous accident has occurred. But he bears no responsibility for it all,” Daniel Baldwin said.
No charges have been filed; an investigation is ongoing. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said 500 rounds of ammunition — a mix of blanks, dummy rounds and suspected live rounds — were found while searching the set of “Rust.” A lawsuit filed by a gaffer for the film said several crew members didn’t properly ensure the gun was safe before handing it to Alec Baldwin, but also criticized Baldwin for not checking it to make sure there were no live rounds.
Baldwin has been largely criticized by conservatives since the tragedy, including Candace Owens, Donald Trump Jr. (who sold T-shirts saying “Guns don’t kill people, Alec Baldwin kills people”) and former Fox News correspondent Rick Leventhal. Baldwin famously spoofed Don Jr.’s father, former President Donald Trump, on “Saturday Night Live” and also irked Republicans on a number of other issues, including gun control.
Daniel, Alec, Billy and Stephen Baldwin are all actors whose credits include “Homicide: Life on the Streets,” “30 Rock,” “Backdraft,” and “The Usual Suspects,” respectively. Alec is the oldest of the Baldwin brothers, who all visit the Syracuse area often to see family, including their mother Carol M. Baldwin and to support her breast cancer research fund.
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