Judge rules Alec Baldwin’s producer role not relevant in ‘Rust’ trial

Alec Baldwin appeared in court Monday for the first time just days before his criminal trial is set to begin where he faces an involuntary manslaughter charge over the fatal “Rust” shooting. The judge in the case ruled Baldwin’s role as a producer on the film could not be brought up to the jury. NBC’s Chloe Melas reports for TODAY.
» Subscribe to TODAY: / @today
About: TODAY brings you the latest headlines and expert tips on money, health and parenting. We wake up every morning to give you and your family all you need to start your day. If it matters to you, it matters to us. We are in the people business. Subscribe to our channel for exclusive TODAY archival footage & our original web series.
Connect with TODAY Online!
Visit TODAY's Website: www.today.com/
Find TODAY on Facebook: / today
Follow TODAY on Twitter: / todayshow
Follow TODAY on Instagram: / todayshow
» Stream TODAY All Day: www.today.com/allday
About: TODAY All Day is a 24/7 streaming channel bringing you the top stories in news and pop culture, celebrity interviews, cooking, and more. All in one place.
#alecbaldwin #rust #movie

[@holleyb7861]

Of course he doesn't shy away from talking about it. He's a narcissist.

[@MultiPetercool]

I stand behind Alec Baldwin 100%. It’s too dangerous to stand in front of him! 😂

[@garywilsonwilson893]

18 months? What a joke.

[@carlosdeno]

Who cuts Baldwin’s hair? Blind Billy.

[@Soyouareseparated]

I hope the other girl that got charged sues him for rushing her when she comes out

[@metgath]

The armorer is supposed to say, "No," if there are demands that make the scene unsafe. She had the authority to take all the guns away, lock them up, and just leave if she was concerned about safety. At the end she chose not to.

[@angelwings7930]

The judge is ridiculous.

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

Legally the judge is actually kinda right sadly. I KNOW I GET IT --- read my above

[@garygriffin9877]

Looks like he brought his baby factory with him 😮

[@isadormoti6977]

Legal action against Baldwin's production company will require a separate lawsuit.

[@HippieChick60]

Civil... If it hasn't already happened. I haven't really been following this. I'm not crazy about celebrities. This one here is a really poor example of one.

[@Kryssyskingdom]

Possibly there's also a mass of civil suits.. However , if they bring up the Osha report his defense , then his responsibility as a producer is coming in.. Judge door warned them at the open.The door that's coming in, in this trial

[@WilliamAshleyOnline]

Unless he put the bullet in the gun how is there any actual intent here? If you are handling a prop thinking it is a prop and not real is that the actors responsibilty or is this a US firearms law where you are suppose to verify a firearm replica or imitation even if you are under the belief it is not loaded. Again wouldn't this be the armorers responsbility, not the actor with the prop or is there a legal requriement of actors to inspect props? Curious? This line "By extension, you cannot be convicted of negligently discharging a firearm if you genuinely believed the firearm was unloaded. This is because, if you thought it was unloaded, you could not have formed the intent to fire it."

[@kartiersupremewhite330]

Extremely interesting and informative... 18 Months if Convicted!!! 😂

[@metgath]

You didn't say that the defense wants to introduce the OSHA report and if that happens then the producer role becomes relevant and comes back in.

[@rhine2y6y]

He's still culpable as an actor. Actors, and anyone handling a firearm, should also bear responsibility for knowing whether live rounds may potentially be present.

[@h4l414]

Playing make belive doesn't excuse you from murder. It was all so pointless.

[@daveclark8337]

That's the point: There is NO reason to have REAL operating Gun or REAL Ammo on a movie set. It's All supposed to be Make Believe.

[@darwinawardcommittee]

@@daveclark8337 They should jail the director Joel Souza

[@Littleangel_-jp4xb]

@@darwinawardcommittee he was also shot. are you for real?

[@darwinawardcommittee]

@@Littleangel_-jp4xb That wouldn’t excuse him from a murder charge. He was in charge of the set. The director runs the set. (I really don’t believe that. Just pointing out how stupid this “charge the producer” bs is. But the director does call the shots)

[@Littleangel_-jp4xb]

@@darwinawardcommittee he's not charged with murder. The only ppl charged were Hall, Hannah, and Alec.

[@ronwade5646]

Nice hair cut!

[@redwhiteblue7166]

FJB, FJB, FJB, FJB, FAB, FAB, FAB

[@sandranynj7118]

I am Team Baldwin!

[@disastermaster1413]

Simp

[@ahill4642]

I am, too. He was in an actor role, not an armourer role.

[@viviorko]

They have various roles for liability reasons. A producer is not responsible for armorer negligence.

[@h4l414]

They are responsible for the Amourer.

[@viviorko]

@@h4l414 for hiring but not for the quality of the job they do. The industry is clear on that. Hence the judge decision was easy.

[@ft_ph]

@@viviorkoagree. That’s why everyone else was hired to do the job they don’t know how to.

[@Kryssyskingdom]

Well, doesn't matter because it's going to trial.And he is responsible for pointing that gun at her and she is now dead...Try to remember that Haylana died from the gun he cocked and pointed at her... However , if his defense brings up the osha report... Then his responsibility as a producer comes in... Regardless...judge already ruled terms

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

YES thank YOU - I am in production I get it I think most ppl here dont... I dont like HIM that doesnt make his role a factor even if it should

[@Kryssyskingdom]

That is not totally what she ruled...if defense brings in the Osha Report then they open the door for prosecution as him being a producer...Try to pay attention... Perhaps put your bias down and pick up the facts that somebody died here....Her name was Haylsna....And perhaps you could respect that and the full details...

[@chocol8milk]

After the shooting, the RUST filming moved to Montana, a safety person was assigned to make sure Baldwin didn’t do anything unsafe on set. He STILL did unsafe things with guns on set!! Too bad the judge denied prosecutions request to have that witness testify. Alec is reckless with real guns.

[@HippieChick60]

Are they still filming this? I guess there would be a macabre appeal to it for some people. But I couldn't sit there and watch it and feel very good about myself. Knowing that I was given money to an organization that carelessly caused the death of one woman, and the incarceration of another.

[@chocol8milk]

@@HippieChick60 Rust is scheduled to be released sometime after this trial, so late 2024 and 2025. It might just go straight to streaming and not theaters.

[@HippieChick60]

@@chocol8milk thank you for the information. I did not know that. I don't think I could sit there and watch it knowing what happened... I certainly would not One dime of my money ending up in that jerks pockets. People were afraid to stand up to him and look what happened. Hollywood brat.

[@chocol8milk]

@@HippieChick60 I think that most of the profits from that movie is going to Halyna's estate (her son) as part of the settlement in addition to paying out for wrongful death. Also, the settlement resulted in Halyna's husband being made Executive Producer of Rust.

[@HippieChick60]

@@chocol8milk thank you for letting me know about that. I had no idea. It's the least he could do right?

[@LuciFeric137]

Charles Nelson Reilly has really hit the wall...

[@yolandagofigure]

INNOCENT! 🙏❤️🇨🇦

[@redwhiteblue7166]

GUILTY OF MURDER!!! LIFE IN PRISON!!!!

[@Littleangel_-jp4xb]

he's only look at 18 months.... involuntary manslaughter

[@christine6205]

Oh my word no one got life..Life?? 😅😅

[@libirdinowski6270]

Ironically, he said Trump said be in Jail 😂😂😂

[@jule3480]

It autopsy photos admitted?

[@Kryssyskingdom]

Yes just like in all homicides... If you want to run down, you'll need to go to law n crime...This channel is for promoting celebs even ones whom have never been accountable for killing someone like Haylana

[@1313babinski]

The family should be compensated and really the family would’ve been smart to just ask him pay out some lawsuit money and call it a day because how can he be responsible for that? Unfortunately somebody lost their lives but money will compensate for the family children it always does. It’s never gonna bring the person back, but it will bring some comfort.

[@MaggieJean]

Something I said six months ago

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

not guilty... dont get mad. I TOO think he should be charged for something - HE opted to run a BUDGETED shoot like a no budget no rules indie And even then NOT remOTELY SAFELY.... but anY actor could have been the one pulling the trigger of a gun the clearly thought was clean.... He is walking and everyones gonna cry privelage.. I have shot 3 westerns and worked with 3 armorers... to be clear its NOT his job to triple check the gun HOWEVER its a good practice. My armorers NEVER let their eyeballs drift from guns or focus on safety come second EVER. I dont like him either THAT cant be a factor.

[@carrollsanders9376]

How does the Procecution prove the trigger didn’t stick?

[@viviorko]

Forensics. Not complicated.

[@carrollsanders9376]

@@viviorko More complicated than you think the FBI tests were meaningless.

[@viviorko]

@@carrollsanders9376 please, take off your tinfoil hat and contact your village. They’ve been looking for you.

[@nospam3001]

@carrollsanders9376 It doesn't matter. The two negligent acts were not checking the gun, and pointing the gun at the victim. Neither act requires proof since the victim was actually shot with a bullet from that gun. Res ipsa loquitur.

[@carrollsanders9376]

@@nospam3001 You have to show checking the gun would have made a Difference, you can do that ?

[@d.b.1176]

How is that not relevant? No way he's getting convicted now.

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

its not, his job has literally nothing LEGAL to do with the manslaughter.

[@d.b.1176]

@@NoSuRReNDeR001 He's the boss and it was a disaster.

[@Dshivs]

@@NoSuRReNDeR001Except according to the judge it is but only if certain details are brought up by the defense but that still means it’s relevant enough to be in the case otherwise she would’ve blocked 100% with no exceptions.

[@nightedpemder4992]

Since he's not an actor what are they going to try him as? A turnip?

[@mizb.9170]

Maybe he was having an affair with HER and she was going to expose it….ya never know

[@Littleangel_-jp4xb]

no proof of that... jury doesn't hear conspiracy theories, they hear actual evidence

[@garyspence2128]

Well, we know that you don't know anything. Just breaking wind like the rest of us...

[@ChacoteOutdoorRecreation]

The Perfect murder is one that you can sell as an accident. Halyna Hutchins made Alec feel small and was just better at movie making, she corrected him every day and called out his lack of ability, and everyone on the set knew that he hated her and the way her and Joel mocked him. Remember this comment because years from now he will do this again, he has a taste for it and likes it and can get away with it.

[@laurieparker7038]

Did you working on the set?

[@Ryu_Shotokan]

It was an accident,let it go. Move on.

[@angelwings7930]

Accidental thanks to total incompetence and disregard so he’s guilty.

[@nospam3001]

Every DWI defendant says the same thing.

[@chrisdraughn5941]

It was an example of criminal negligence that resulted in a deadly accident. They cut corners on hiring an experienced armorer and violated numerous safety protocols involving gun safety in the film industry. It doesn’t make sense to call it a “whoopsie” and just move on.

[@rensinclair4218]

Accident? No, negligence. Your parents spoiled you

[@Soyouareseparated]

It doesn’t work like that there is a responsibility that comes with using guns and it’s called gun safety if they had exercised it maybe it could of been avoided

[@jimhenson6841]

toadie show

[@marymary20]

I feel so bad for Baldwin. I can't imagine what he is feeling having unwittingly taken a life and then being charged criminally.

[@disastermaster1413]

So you feel sorry for anyone that has gotten behind the wheel of a car while drunk that ended up killing people? You feel for a dwi that took the lives of children? Grow up

[@LuciFeric137]

Narcissists have zero compassion for others