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Alec Baldwin attorney says state Rust probe clears him

Alec Baldwin Cleared After New Mexico Says He Didn’t Stab Himself

In a dramatic twist that feels more like a movie plot than real‑life, Alec Baldwin’s lawyer announced on Thursday that New Mexico’s investigation has officially exonerated him from any blame in the fatal shooting that occurred on the set of “Rust.” The report notes that Baldwin believed his gun only carried dummy rounds.

The Investigation Verdict

Duration: Six‑month probe into last October’s tragedy.
Key Findings: Rust Movie Productions LLC committed “willful” safety lapses that led to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Fine: The company was slapped with the maximum penalty of $137,000 (about S$816,890).

Baldwin’s Role—Limited as a Chef

Representatives lied that the actor’s responsibilities were strictly “green‑lighting scripts and picking down‑the‑line talent.” They made it crystal clear that everything else—like gun safety or operational protocols—remained entirely out of Baldwin’s purview.

How the Verdict Sounds to Fans

So, in short: the big names weren’t the culprits; the company that ran the show was. Baldwin’s lawyer says he was simply a creative overseer, not a safety inspector. That’s the story on the reel.

Silence on the Set: The Tragic Fallout of Ignored Safety Protocols

The latest investigation has cleared Mr. Baldwin of any wrongdoing, stressing that he genuinely believed the revolver he carried held dummy rounds only. Baldwin’s Instagram statement graciously acknowledged the report’s findings, saying, “We appreciate that the report exonerates Mr. Baldwin by making clear that he believed the gun held only dummy rounds. We are pleased that the New Mexico officials have clarified these critical issues.”

The Unraveling of Reel‑Life Violations

Hutchins’ Fatal Rehearsal: During a rehearsal the revolver Baldwin held discharged a live round that sliced through her and struck director Joel Souza in the shoulder, leaving him wounded.
Widespread Safety Lapses: The New Mexico Environment Department concluded that the production firm knew firefighting protocols were broken, yet showed “plain indifference” to the danger.
Management’s Negligence: Crew members raised red flags about firearm and pyrotechnic misfires, but management ignored them, overlooking basic checks that could have prevented live ammunition on set.
Unanswered Questions: The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney are still pressing forward with criminal investigations into Hutchins’ death.

Corporate Pushback

Rust Movie Productions is not taking the findings lightly. A spokesperson, Stefan Friedman, publicly declared the company unwilling to admit fault and announced plans to appeal the report. “We disagree with the findings,” he said.

Why Humor Doesn’t Help—Just Like Safety Does

In the world of film, the real story isn’t just about the lights, camera, and action—it’s about making sure the cameras do not shoot something that could actually hurt people. Because when you mix excitement with danger without proper checks, the result is often a tragedy, showing that film sets aren’t a place for dramatic “roll calls” or improvisation when everyone’s safety is on the line.

Let’s take a good look at the lessons we’re learning from this incident so we can keep making movies safe and thrilling—just the right mix, like a good sitcom, without any real casualties.