Alec Baldwin Returns to “Saturday Night Live” for the First Time Since Fatal Shooting on Set of “Rust”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Alec Baldwin made a surprising comeback to the popular television show “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend, marking his first appearance since the tragic shooting incident on the set of his movie “Rust” in 2021. Baldwin, who was a regular on the show impersonating former President Donald Trump, had last been seen on the long-running NBC comedy sketch program more than three years ago.

In a brief and fleeting cameo during the latest episode of “SNL,” Baldwin, who has hosted the show a remarkable 17 times, appeared towards the end of a sketch centered around sleep stories for the Calm app. In his appearance, Baldwin exclaimed, “Okay everybody, let’s get calm!” alongside the evening’s host, Timothée Chalamet, and musical guest boygenius, following the customary end-of-show sendoff.

The incident that unfolded in October 2021 involved Baldwin rehearsing on the set of his western film “Rust” when a gun he was holding discharged a live round, tragically resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has vehemently denied pulling the trigger in a previous interview with CNN.

Earlier this year, involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dropped. However, last month, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis from New Mexico revealed their intention to convene a grand jury to determine whether Baldwin should face criminal charges once again in relation to the incident. Meanwhile, armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was responsible for the firearm, faces involuntary manslaughter charges and has pleaded not guilty.

David Halls, the assistant director on the film, who handed the weapon to Baldwin on the day of the incident, reached a plea agreement earlier this year for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, according to prosecutors.

Despite the tragedy, production on the film eventually resumed in April and was successfully completed by May. The entire incident has raised significant concerns and sparked intense debates surrounding safety protocols on film sets.

It remains to be seen how Baldwin’s return to “Saturday Night Live” will be received by the public and whether it will have any impact on the ongoing legal proceedings. The actor’s cameo appearance signifies a significant moment in his career as he navigates the aftermath of the tragic shooting incident that shook the entertainment industry.

[Original image source: CTV News].