'Tone deaf!' Alec Baldwin slammed as he lands role in film about Kent State shooting after 'Rust' tragedy
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Alec Baldwin has a new project and people are not quite happy with it. The 65-year-old actor will be seen in ‘Kent State,’ a film about the May 4, 1970, incident that killed four unarmed students and injured nine others after an Ohio National Guard opened fire on the Kent State University campus during a protest against the Vietnam War.
Baldwin will play the former president of the university Robert White, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The project will be the feature directorial debut of Karen Slade. Produced by Kristen Moser of Autumn Moor Productions, the executive producers of the film include Tom Ortenberg, Kevin Beer, Ivan Williams, and Michael Walsh.
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Internet was quick to bash the actor, who was previously charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the movie ‘Rust’ in October 2021.
'I hope the production will invest in some decent bulletproof vests'
An individual wrote, "Avoiding prosecution is one thing, but how the HELL is this guy still getting work in Hollywood??" One user commented, "I hope the production will invest in some decent bulletproof vests for the entire crew." Another called the decion "tone deaf." The outrage continued with one writing, "This casting is just in appallingly bad taste."
Avoiding prosecution is one thing, but how the HELL is this guy still getting work in Hollywood??
— JustBen (@TheBatmanArtist) May 17, 2023
I hope the production will invest in some decent bulletproof vests for the entire crew.
— I'll Watch a Movie (@illwatchamovie) May 17, 2023
One more said, "For all his talk about being against violence and guns, he's always in films showcasing them." While another wrote, "This is really insulting to all of us who grew up in Vietnam War era or have recollections of Kent State shooting of students. A movie: Yes. Have Alec Baldwin star in Kent State film: No." One asked, "Is he ready to start shooting again?"
For all his talk about being against violence and guns, he's always in films showcasing them.
— Eric Hovland (@EricJHovland) May 17, 2023
This is really insulting to all of us who grew up in Vietnam War era or have recollections of Kent State shooting of students. A movie: Yes. Have Alec Baldwin star in Kent State film: No. https://t.co/qGNf5UN5jD
— Season🐿🏞 (@SeasonO1) May 17, 2023
Details of 'Rust' shoot
As per Deadline, during a rehearsal scene on October 21, 2021, Baldwin fired a prop gun after being told it was “cold.” While director Joel Souza was injured when the bullet hit his shoulder; Hutchins died. The family of the deceased then filed a wrongful death lawsuit on February 15, 2022, which named both Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions. Though the settlement details were not disclosed, Matthew Hutchins, husband of the cinematographer said on October 5, 2022, “our case will be dismissed,” and added that he will step in as executive producer. On April 20, 2023, the charges were dropped after new evidence indicated that the firearm used by Baldwin had been modified, and prosecutors couldn't prove that it required a trigger pull in order to shoot, reports DailyMail.
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