Alec Baldwin Says Filming Reality Show DuringRustTrial Was 'Unique,' Says They're Not 'Staging Anything' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Alec Baldwin.Photo:Daniele Venturelli/Getty

Daniele Venturelli/Getty

Alec Baldwin tells PEOPLE it was a “unique” time when the family were filming their new TLC seriesThe Baldwinsamid last year’sRustshooting trialCameras began rolling on the show the month before the actor headed to trial in July — and the series shows how he and Hilaria juggled parenting and day-to-day life with their kids alongside the legal proceedingsAlec also tells PEOPLE the family weren’t “staging” or “faking” anything while filming the reality series, which premiered last monthAlec Baldwinis opening up about what it was like filming hisfamily’s new reality seriesThe Baldwinsamid last year’sRustshooting trial.While speaking to PEOPLE at an event celebrating the grand opening of the new Planet Hollywood in Times Square on Tuesday, March 11, Alec, 66, spoke about the TLC series, which premiered on Feb. 23, admitting it was a “unique time” for the family when they filmed the show.The actor stood trial last July after beingindicted for involuntary manslaughterfollowingthe death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchinson the set of his movieRustin October 2021. Hutchins, 42, was killed and writer-directorJoel Souzawas injured after a prop gun that Alec was holding on the New Mexico set discharged.Cameras began rolling onThe Baldwinsthe month before Alec headed to trial — and the series shows how he and wifeHilaria, 41, juggled parenting and day-to-day life with their kids alongside the legal proceedings.On the third day of the trial, the judgethrew out the case due to a late discovery of evidence. The case wasdismissedwith prejudice after Alec’s lawyers argued that the prosecution withheld evidence relevant to the case.Hilaria Baldwin and Alec Baldwin attend the grand opening of the new Planet Hollywood in New York City on March 11, 2025.Bruce Glikas/GettyAlec tells PEOPLE of filming their show during such a tough time, “When I think of the reality show, many things occur to me after the fact like when we were doing it, it was a bit of a unique time for us, but afterward when we did it, I realized that that’s who we are.““The kids have fun, the kids are happy. It’s not like we’re staging anything or faking. The kids really are in each other’s lives,” the actor continues of thecouple’s seven children. “They have friends and go to play dates and this and that, but they would rather stay home with each other,” he adds while talking about what the camera captures.“They’re like a pack … they’re very close and they want to just be with each other, so this representation is pretty authentic about how we live our lives,” he says.Hilaria went on to tell PEOPLE that she’s “really grateful that we did the show” and has “no regrets.” “I think it was during a time where I almost can’t believe that we agreed to do something during that time, and I’m really happy that we did,” she says.“So looking back through such surreal experiences and such a hectic and stressful and emotional time, it’s so nice to see it captured and so it’s almost like I learned so much about us through watching us, you know, it’s like a little bit on the outside perspective,” she adds.Hilaria continues, “We’re trying to figure out where we’re going now, you know? We’re figuring out what’s next.“In a recentcover story interview with PEOPLE, Alec reflected on coming to terms with theRustaccident, sharing, “I had to stuff [feelings] down because I had seven kids. I couldn’t really go in the other room and cry or whatever. And now the emotion is really kind of washing up on me.”In the second episode ofThe Baldwins, Hilariarecalled receiving alarming messagesfrom her husband the day after the 2021 shooting.Alec and Hilaria Baldwin are pictured with their kids in ‘The Baldwins’ promo.TLCNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In a confessional, Hilaria added that Alec “has survivor’s guilt” following the fatal incident. “You’re involved in this thing that nobody could even possibly imagine. And so he goes back to that day, he wishes it were him. He would change places [with Hutchins] in a second,” she said.Alec has since filed a lawsuit against the prosecutors, investigators and others, accusing them of “malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence, defamation, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act.”His suit claims the defendants “sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law.” (The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, wasconvicted of involuntary manslaughterlast March for her role in Hutchins’s death.)The Baldwinsairs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC. Episodes are available to stream on Max.

Alec Baldwinis opening up about what it was like filming hisfamily’s new reality seriesThe Baldwinsamid last year’sRustshooting trial.

While speaking to PEOPLE at an event celebrating the grand opening of the new Planet Hollywood in Times Square on Tuesday, March 11, Alec, 66, spoke about the TLC series, which premiered on Feb. 23, admitting it was a “unique time” for the family when they filmed the show.

The actor stood trial last July after beingindicted for involuntary manslaughterfollowingthe death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchinson the set of his movieRustin October 2021. Hutchins, 42, was killed and writer-directorJoel Souzawas injured after a prop gun that Alec was holding on the New Mexico set discharged.

Cameras began rolling onThe Baldwinsthe month before Alec headed to trial — and the series shows how he and wifeHilaria, 41, juggled parenting and day-to-day life with their kids alongside the legal proceedings.

On the third day of the trial, the judgethrew out the case due to a late discovery of evidence. The case wasdismissedwith prejudice after Alec’s lawyers argued that the prosecution withheld evidence relevant to the case.

Hilaria Baldwin and Alec Baldwin attend the grand opening of the new Planet Hollywood in New York City on March 11, 2025.Bruce Glikas/Getty

Bruce Glikas/Getty

Alec tells PEOPLE of filming their show during such a tough time, “When I think of the reality show, many things occur to me after the fact like when we were doing it, it was a bit of a unique time for us, but afterward when we did it, I realized that that’s who we are.”

“The kids have fun, the kids are happy. It’s not like we’re staging anything or faking. The kids really are in each other’s lives,” the actor continues of thecouple’s seven children. “They have friends and go to play dates and this and that, but they would rather stay home with each other,” he adds while talking about what the camera captures.

“They’re like a pack … they’re very close and they want to just be with each other, so this representation is pretty authentic about how we live our lives,” he says.

Hilaria went on to tell PEOPLE that she’s “really grateful that we did the show” and has “no regrets.” “I think it was during a time where I almost can’t believe that we agreed to do something during that time, and I’m really happy that we did,” she says.

“So looking back through such surreal experiences and such a hectic and stressful and emotional time, it’s so nice to see it captured and so it’s almost like I learned so much about us through watching us, you know, it’s like a little bit on the outside perspective,” she adds.

Hilaria continues, “We’re trying to figure out where we’re going now, you know? We’re figuring out what’s next.”

In a recentcover story interview with PEOPLE, Alec reflected on coming to terms with theRustaccident, sharing, “I had to stuff [feelings] down because I had seven kids. I couldn’t really go in the other room and cry or whatever. And now the emotion is really kind of washing up on me.”

In the second episode ofThe Baldwins, Hilariarecalled receiving alarming messagesfrom her husband the day after the 2021 shooting.

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin are pictured with their kids in ‘The Baldwins’ promo.TLC

TLC

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In a confessional, Hilaria added that Alec “has survivor’s guilt” following the fatal incident. “You’re involved in this thing that nobody could even possibly imagine. And so he goes back to that day, he wishes it were him. He would change places [with Hutchins] in a second,” she said.

Alec has since filed a lawsuit against the prosecutors, investigators and others, accusing them of “malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence, defamation, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act.”

His suit claims the defendants “sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law.” (The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, wasconvicted of involuntary manslaughterlast March for her role in Hutchins’s death.)

The Baldwinsairs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC. Episodes are available to stream on Max.

source: people.com