Quentin Tarantino says Alec Baldwin “10% responsible” for ‘Rust’ shooting tragedy

Renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has shared his thoughts on the tragic incident that occurred on the set of the film ‘Rust,’ expressing that actor Alec Baldwin bears partial responsibility for the fatal shooting, according to a report by Deadline.

The incident in question took place in 2021 when Baldwin, handling a pistol loaded with live ammunition, accidentally shot and injured director Joel Souza and tragically killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. During an appearance on the Club Random podcast with Bill Maher, Tarantino discussed the event, emphasizing the shared responsibility in such situations.

“It’s a situation where I think it’s fair to say that the armorer, the person who hands the gun to the actor, is 90 percent responsible for what happens with that gun. But the actor is 10 percent responsible,” Tarantino stated. “The actor is a partner in the responsibility to some degree. It’s a gun!”

Tarantino elaborated on the protocols actors should follow when handling firearms on set, stressing the importance of thorough walkthroughs to ensure safety. “If he went through the steps he was supposed to go through,” Tarantino explained, “like checking the barrel to make sure it’s clear, and being shown the barrel is clear with nothing lodged in there, then the gun should be safe to use. They should show you the blanks and the gun, and then it’s ready to go.”

The discussion also touched on the recent developments in the legal case surrounding the incident. Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial was dismissed last month due to mishandling of evidence, while the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter.

Maher questioned why filmmakers can’t simply use fake guns on set and add the effects in post-production, to which Tarantino responded with his trademark bluntness. “I guess I could add digital erections to porno movies, but who wants to watch that?” he said. “It’s exciting to shoot the blanks and see the real orange fire, not add it in later.”

Tarantino also reflected on the rarity of such incidents in the film industry, noting, “For as many guns as we’ve shot off in movies, we only have two examples of people being shot on set due to a gun mishap,” referring to the ‘Rust’ shooting and the death of Brandon Lee on the set of ‘The Crow.’