This theory’s not really that much of a stretch when you think about it. The tragic accident on the set of Alec Baldwin’s Western Rust is so uncommon that the last major event like this happened nearly 30 years ago, when Brandon Lee, star of The Crow, suffered a similar fate on the set.
The theory, floated by Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress Janet Hubert, is that the prop gun behind the accidental misfire that claimed the life of a cinematographer was placed there on purpose. She thought it might be an act of revenge by a Trump supporter against Baldwin himself, who mocked Trump at every turn by portraying him on Saturday Night Live.
Am I crazy, but my first thought was Baldwin was given this gun on purpose from someone to get back at him for his Trump impersonations? I have never seen prop guns sitting out on set EVER😲 Then to photograph his pain and give it to the press! Hmmmm, so very heartless, TRUMPERS? pic.twitter.com/rLcHs7H2M1 [1]
— Janet Hubert (@OGJanetHubert) October 27, 2021 [2]
In fact, the theory becomes even more plausible once you consider how quickly Baldwin’s detractors were calling for charges against the actor-director.
While I do believe that Baldwin should have had at least enough say in production to ensure he was employing union workers, it is totally clear that he had no idea that the round in the prop weapon was live and that the incident was unintentional.
The situation gets even more suspicious when the actual armorer for Rust, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, turns out to be extensively trained, following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather in their love of guns. She has even discussed the proper protocol for ensuring that rounds are not live in a prop weapon prior to a scene.
In a podcast called “Voices of the West,” Gutierrez-Reed described it as so:
You have to like look at the front of it and determine which one is the blank, if it’s dummied up. That’s how I tell at least.
It looks like she either had a major brain hiccup or, as Ms. Hubert suggests, was part of something a little more nefarious.
While many on Twitter thought Hubert was crazy or suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome”, many thought it was plausible:
That’s the very first thing that came to my mind. I said they need to look into the political views of the guy who gave the gun to Baldwin AND the woman who’s job it was to deal with the guns.
— It’s Nunya Bidness ♑️ ☮️☯️😷 (@NunyaBi26999264) October 27, 2021 [3]
You know what… I've been thinking about how someone can get this so wrong.
— Zerjna Zenobja 🇺🇸🇭🇹🇧🇸 (@KissTheDragon) October 27, 2021 [4]
The fact it even has a modicum of possibility is frightening
— Ailias 🇭🇲 #AboriginalLivesMatter (@LoL_Ailias) October 27, 2021 [5]
The fact it even has a modicum of possibility is frightening
— Ailias 🇭🇲 #AboriginalLivesMatter (@LoL_Ailias) October 27, 2021 [5]
Judging by the absolute glee of some of his supporters in the midst of this awful tragedy, it would not surprise me.
— Shannon (@ShannyRants) October 27, 2021 [6]
No you are not crazy. I thought the same thing.
— Ianta Summers (@iantasummers) October 27, 2021 [7]