Quentin Tarantino Says Alec Baldwin Is ‘10% Responsible’ For ‘Rust’ Shooting

Quentin Tarantino has shared his perspective on the 2021 on-set shooting incident during the production of Rust, which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

In a recent appearance on Bill Maher‘s Club Random Podcast, Tarantino suggested that actor Alec Baldwin bears some responsibility for the fatal shooting. This comes just a month after a judge dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin.

Tarantino, known for his work on films like Pulp Fiction and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, stated that while the armorer holds primary responsibility for firearms safety on set, actors also share a portion of that duty.

“The armorer is 90 percent responsible for everything that happens when it comes to that gun,” Tarantino said. “But the actor is 10 percent responsible.”

The director emphasized that the presence of a real firearm on set necessitates a degree of shared responsibility among all parties involved.

Tarantino’s stance contrasts with that of SAG-AFTRA, the union representing film and television actors. In January, following the filing of charges against Baldwin and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the union released a statement asserting that actors should not be expected to serve as firearms experts on set.

“An actor’s job is not to be a firearms or weapons expert,” the SAG-AFTRA statement read, emphasizing that multiple professionals are responsible for the safe handling of firearms during production.

The Rust shooting incident has sparked ongoing debate within the film industry regarding on-set safety protocols and accountability. In March, Gutierrez Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in the tragedy.

Baldwin’s case took a different turn in July when Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the charges against him. The decision came after the prosecution was found to have withheld potentially crucial evidence related to the ammunition used in the shooting.

The Rust production has faced intense scrutiny since the October 2021 incident, which also injured the film’s director, Joel Souza. The tragedy has prompted calls for stricter safety regulations and increased awareness of firearm handling in film and television productions.