Social media users are in disbelief after discovering police interview footage of actor Jensen Ackles, revealing his unexpected involvement as a witness in the tragic incident on the set of Alec Baldwin’s movie “Rust.” The footage has sparked a huge online reaction due to Ackles’s little-known connection to the case.
In October 2021, a tragic accident occurred during the production of “Rust” when Alec Baldwin, the film’s lead and an executive producer, discharged a firearm that was supposed to be safe. The gun unexpectedly went off, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza, who later recovered from his injuries. The incident led to Baldwin facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, with his trial set to commence this Tuesday.
Further complicating the matter, the film’s armorer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March of this year and received an 18-month prison sentence.
While it was widely known that Baldwin had a major role in the production, many were unaware that Jensen Ackles, known for his roles in “Supernatural” and “The Boys,” was also a part of the cast. Ackles was present on set on the day of the incident and was subsequently questioned by police in New Mexico. The interview footage, shared on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, has left fans shocked as they were mostly oblivious to Ackles’s participation in the film and his proximity to the tragic event.
Comments on social media highlighted the surprise and sympathy for Ackles. One user remarked, “Had no idea he was even involved let alone an eye witness! Poor Jensen.” Another shared, “This is the first time I heard that he was on that film!”
One particularly revealing comment in the footage noted, “I knew he was in the movie and on set, I did not know he was supposed to be the one Alec was supposed to fire upon later when they were going to actually shoot the scene.”
During his police interview, Ackles detailed the circumstances of the shooting, which occurred during a rehearsal of a shootout scene in a church between his character and Baldwin’s. Although Ackles was not in the church at the moment the gun discharged, he vividly described the aftermath: “It just sounded different, a real round sounds different than a blank. I spun into the church, I saw Joel [Souza] down screaming, I saw Halyna seated, and her back was to me but I could see the blood pooling on her khaki jacket so I just started yelling medic. I stood back, I kicked myself for not running in there and doing something, but I don’t know what I would have done.”
The emotional toll on Ackles is evident, with one TikTok comment reading, “The fact that Jensen feels guilty for not doing something is absolutely heartbreaking.”
Despite the continuation of filming for “Rust,” Ackles has not returned to the project, and his role has been recast with Josh Hopkins taking over. As the community and fans process this newfound information, all eyes are on Baldwin’s impending trial starting tomorrow.