Alec Baldwin thanks supporters for helping him through ‘really tough time’ after Rust shooting

Actor Alec Baldwin has posted a video on Instagram days before Christmas to thank his followers and those who have reached out to him in the months following the tragic shooting on the Rust movie set. 

Baldwin, 63, uploaded a video on himself speaking directly into the camera on Thursday.  

‘I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of the people who sent me such kind words and best wishes and strength and hope and prayers and so forth and thoughts and lots of encouragement and lots of really really great sentiments from so many people,’ Baldwin began while standing outside.  

“I got hundreds and hundreds of emails from friends, family and colleagues and people I haven’t heard from in quite a while to send me strength and good wishes and so forth. I’m really grateful to them. Many people commenting on Instagram seem very very supportive about this difficult situation.’ 

Baldwin referred to the Rust shooting that killed cinematographer 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins in October.  The director of the film, Joel Souza, was shot in the shoulder and survived.

‘I’m looking forward to some aspects of this being behind me, of course,’ he continued. ‘For everyone who is involved in this, it’ll never be behind us because someone died so tragically. I never lose sight of that. Not a day goes by I don’t think about that. 

‘I’m home with my family, the only thing I care about. It’s true, the only thing I care about is my wife and my kids and just want forward with my life try to get through through a tough time, a really tough time,’ Baldwin said in the emotional video message. 

‘I wanted to say thank you to all the people who sent me good wishes and send me support I’m very grateful for that. I feel very awkward going through this. It has been very difficult. I wanna say happy holidays happy Hanukkah and Christmas and a happy Kwanzaa. Whatever holiday you’re celebrating,’ he continued in the three minute long clip, which appeared to have been filmed in the Hamptons where the family have a home.

The actor said he was going through ‘a really tough time’ since the Rust shooting but there were plenty of supportive messages in response to his video message

The set of Rust, at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside of Santa Fe  where the shooting occured

Alec Baldwin is seen on October 21, after speaking to investigators about the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins 

Hutchins was shot just moments after the crew entered a church set to rehearse a scene (above)

‘I hope that you’re as lucky as I am in one department and that you’re home with your family. I’m home with my family. It’s all I’ve got. The only thing that matters.’

‘I don’t have anything smart or original to say, just thank you to the people who sent me these great wishes. Be safe, wear a mask, get the booster. Don’t let Santa Claus down the chimney without a mask,’ Baldwin said signing off.   

Baldwin is currently the focus of an investigation into the death of Hutchins, who was shot dead on the film set of Rust in October. 

The cinematographer was killed after a prop gun that Baldwin was holding went off.

In the latest development in the case, investigators issued a search warrant for Baldwin’s phone as local authorities in New Mexico continue to investigate the tragic accident. 

Baldwin has not been charged, though the investigation continues and lawsuits have been filed. Authorities still do not know how a live round ended up in the prop firearm, and Baldwin has said he did not pull the trigger. 

Halyna Hutchins, 42, died on the set of Rust when a gun Baldwin was handling ‘went off’ and shot her

Hutchins (center) died after being shot by Baldwin during a rehearsal on October 21 in New Mexico