The 2021 shooting at the Rust set has left Alec Baldwin with brittle mental health. His wife, Hilaria, has revealed that being traumatized by the event, the actor even contemplated suicide. She describes Baldwin as someone suffering from survivor's guilt and states that he wishes he could trade places with cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died at the Rust set after Baldwin's prop gun discharged.
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These revelations were shared by Hilaria during the second episode of TLC's The Baldwins, as per the New York Post. This reality show shows both Alec and Hilaria Baldwin as they deal with the incident's aftermath.
"I found these text messages the other day between us, you know, the day after," Hilaria said during the episode. "He said he wanted to kill himself."
Back on October 21, 2021, Alec Baldwin was holding a prop revolver that, according to him, discharged on its own. The gun was loaded with live bullets, a fact that neither Baldwin nor David Halls, fire assistant director at the Rust set, knew at the time. The bullet struck Halyna Hutchins's chest, killing her, and then hit director Souza in the shoulder.
"He has survivor's guilt," Hilaria shared. "You're involved in this thing that nobody could even possibly imagine. And so it goes back to that day He wishes it were him. He would change places in a second."
Baldwin Charged, Case Dismissed
Alec Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty on February 2023, and the charges against him were dropped. However, in January 2024, Baldwin was again indicted of involuntary manslaughter. He, again, pleaded not guilty. In July 2024, the case was dismissed after it was found that the prosecution withheld evidence.
"This has affected his health and his mental health tremendously," Hilaria added. According to Page Six, Baldwin was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. "The past few years, all of a sudden he, you know, has started having heart problems," Hilaria continued. "He's been hospitalized multiple times."
After the prosecution appealed the judge's decision to dismiss Baldwin's case, on December 23, 2024, the prosecution decided to withdraw their appeal, the second one in the year. Effectively, this ended Baldwin's case for good.
