Actor Alec Baldwin was previously charged with involuntary manslaughter in the accidental shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The charges were dropped today. Hutchins had been filming Baldwin in the western “Rust”, and Baldwin fired a prop gun directly at her, not knowing that it was loaded. Hutchins’ family and the Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies pursued the charges.
If convicted, Baldwin could have served up anywhere between 18 months and five years of prison time for the fatal shooting. The announcement of the dropped charges continues to divide the internet. Some feel that because the incident was caused by a prop master’s negligence, that Baldwin should not be charged. Others feel that this could have been a teaching moment about gun safety. Meanwhile, some say that Baldwin is only getting away with it because of celebrity immunity.
https://twitter.com/AmandaLarreni/status/1649179329375477765?s=20
Some argued that a racial bias in the justice system could also be at play.
white privilege. this thug needs to be locked up… there are black men in jail for DECADES for non violent crimes smh.
— Paul⁴ is #SingleSoon | BLM (@selenastan18) April 20, 2023
Why The Internet Is Talking Politics
On the other end of the political spectrum, some Conservative media personalities are taking it as an opportunity to compare former President Donald Trump’s recent arrest over the hush money paid to Stormy Daniels to Baldwin’s case. The respective cases are entirely different, and have no correlation between each other.
Alec Baldwin shot and killed a woman:
Charges dropped
Trump’s accounting entries:
37 Felonies
This is America
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) April 20, 2023
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BREAKING: Charges against Alec Baldwin DROPPED in fatal shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.
Who else thinks it’s suspicious the prosecutors dropped the case? pic.twitter.com/U0O4rxyDfl
— The Trump Train ???????????? (@The_Trump_Train) April 20, 2023
Social media users who fall on the conservative and liberal scale politically are criticizing the Santa Fe DA’s decision for different reasons. Conservative social media users feel that Trump should be acquitted of his charges too. However, liberal social media users simply believe anyone convicted of a serious crime should serve jail time.
We have a two tiered justice system. Disgusting. https://t.co/6zRDXziait
— Scott4Trump (@Scott_4Trump) April 20, 2023
The sudden political discussion coming out of Baldwin’s case likely stems from the actor’s long tenure of portraying former President Trump on Saturday Night Live (SNL). This role rapidly placed Baldwin in a national political conversation that lasted for years.
Baldwin is yet to comment on the charges being dropped.
