Real Time host Bill Maher spoke up for Alec Baldwin, who he says shouldn’t go to jail over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Earlier this month, Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter for accidentally shooting Hutchins on the set of his 2021 film Rust, in which he starred and produced.
During his “Overtime” segment on YouTube, Maher drew a viewer question about whether he thought Baldwin should have been faced with the charges.
“No,” Maher replied. “I mean, I don’t know Alec Baldwin well at all. He used to do this show, he quit years ago, I’m just putting this up like I have no staff, I’m not for him or against him. I like him as an actor, I don’t really know him. But if you don’t think Alec Baldwin shot that cameraman on purpose, what the heck are we talking about?
“It’s a terrible tragedy, there could be someone to blame whoever had the job of having that gun there, but I don’t think it’s the actor’s job,” Maher added.
Freie Presse editor-in-chief Bari Weiss pointed out that Baldwin was not only the actor but also the film’s producer, which Maher was quick to dismiss.
Bill Maher said Alec Baldwin should not be charged in the fatal shooting of Rust. YouTube/Real Time with Bill Maher
“It’s not the producer’s job to check the guns either!” Maher exclaimed. “I mean, some things in life have to be delegated, right?”
“But the only thing – he said he didn’t pull the trigger. And the gun can’t go off – I mean, I don’t know enough about this case, but he said he can’t pull the trigger, but how does a gun go off without pulling the trigger?” asked Weiss. “That’s the only thing I was like, ‘That’s a little weird.'”
After a chuckle, Maher replied, “He said that, didn’t he?”
Bari Weiss pointed out that Alec Baldwin claimed he didn’t pull the trigger.YouTube/Real Time With Bill Maher
“I don’t know, I don’t know. He’s an actor,” Maher said, causing the audience to laugh. “I mean, I… just judge her on a different curve.”
Weiss then questioned whether there was any “motivation to care about” Baldwin because of his celebrity status. Maher responded by suggesting that there is a broader reason for the charges.
“I just think we live in a culture where someone always has to take the blame. No one can ever just throw up their hands and say, ‘Oh my god. This is a terrible tragedy,’” Maher said. “You know, Democrats always have to say ‘this could never happen again,’ no matter how rare or anything – ‘we’ve got to spend a million dollars so that doesn’t happen again.’ And the Republicans are going to be like, ‘Well, now they’re after your prop guns,’ you know.”
Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. Alec Baldwin/Instagram
“Nobody can ever just be reasonable,” Maher added before moving on to the next subject.
Baldwin and the film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, were both charged with involuntary manslaughter by the Santa Fe district attorney’s office after Baldwin fired a gun he unknowingly had with live ammunition instead of sham bullets.
The charges could see Baldwin behind bars for 18 months or possibly up to five years, depending on the verdict.
Many in Hollywood have rushed to Baldwin’s defense.