Alec Baldwin Makes Triumphant Return to Saturday Night Live After Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Dismissed
Alec Baldwin has made a highly anticipated return to the iconic US sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL) following the dismissal of his trial related to a tragic on-set shooting during the filming of Rust. The incident involved a prop gun that discharged a live round, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, for which Baldwin faced charges of involuntary manslaughter—a claim he has consistently denied.
In his latest SNL appearance, Baldwin hosted for an impressive 18th time, a record number for the show. He opened the episode portraying Fox News host Bret Baier, engaging in a comedic take on his recent interview with Democratic US presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Baldwin and Maya Rudolph, who played Harris, humorously highlighted the contentious nature of their real-life interview. In a particularly memorable moment, Baldwin’s portrayal of Baier quipped that he couldn’t listen to Harris because “I’m talking,” alluding to their frequent interruptions during the discussion. After a handshake, Rudolph’s Harris cheekily remarked, “The pleasure is neither of ours.”
Baldwin’s return follows a legal battle that concluded in July when charges of involuntary manslaughter pertaining to Hutchins’ death were dismissed in New Mexico. He has maintained that he did not pull the trigger on the firearm and expressed ignorance about how live rounds ended up in the gun, labeling the incident a “one in a trillion episode.”
The dismissal of the trial came after Baldwin’s legal team argued that crucial evidence, including a batch of bullets possibly linked to the incident, had been withheld by law enforcement. Although prosecutors claimed the evidence was irrelevant, the presiding judge ruled that it should have been disclosed to Baldwin’s defense team.
In a related case earlier this year, the film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was sentenced to jail after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors indicated that she failed to ensure live rounds were not mixed with dummy ammunition on set, resulting in Baldwin using a firearm containing live bullets.
