Alec Baldwin's decision to embrace a new reality show during his ongoing involuntary manslaughter trial has raised eyebrows among industry experts, who believe it could negatively impact his public image and damage his chances of acquittal.
Alec Baldwin's involvement in a new reality show while facing involuntary manslaughter charges has drawn criticism from legal experts and public relations professionals, who believe the move could be a damaging public relations blunder.
The actor is currently on trial for his actions on the set of the Western movie "Rust" in 2021, where he accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead. If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
Alec Baldwin's Reality Show Blunder: Experts Slam Public Relations Move Amid Manslaughter Trial
Despite the gravity of the charges, Baldwin announced that he and his wife, Hilaria, have signed up for a TLC reality show documenting their everyday life with seven children. The couple has been seen embracing the spotlight in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the trial is taking place, attending social events and shopping.
Experts argue that Baldwin's behavior and his decision to embark on a reality show could negatively impact his trial.
Alec Baldwin's Reality Show Blunder: Experts Slam Public Relations Move Amid Manslaughter Trial
"I think it's a terrible PR blunder," said defense attorney Timothy Parlatore. "When you're on trial for something like this it has to be your sole focus. This trial will be over in less than two weeks. There is no need to go and do these things before a trial in a way that can negatively impact you."
Attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing Hutchins' family, questioned Baldwin's motives for announcing the reality show project before the trial.
Alec Baldwin's Reality Show Blunder: Experts Slam Public Relations Move Amid Manslaughter Trial
"It appears to me to be a very cynical, calculated public relations move to possibly have an impact on the jury or the jury pool, to try to get sympathy for Alec Baldwin," she said.
Allred noted that Baldwin has never reached out to Hutchins' family after the tragic incident, but has had time to stroll through Santa Fe's chic streets during his trial.
"Is he taking it seriously?" she asked. "Or is he doing it because of the reality show? I don’t know. But if he is, then it is in such bad taste. I mean really. He had time to go shopping, but he never made time to call the grieving mother of Halyna Hutchins?"
Public relations expert Juda Engelmayer said Baldwin's behavior is unseemly given the weight of the charges against him.
"Given the weight of what he’s looking at, whether he's guilty or not, he should be somber," he said. "He should look like he cares. He should look like he’s respecting the family of the woman who was killed."
Engelmayer believes Baldwin's reality show announcement and carefree outings will only reinforce his reputation as a hothead.
"What he’s doing is an arrogance that besieged Alec Baldwin way before this happened," he added.
Meanwhile, Ebony Lewkovitz of Eden Communications called the couple's handling of the tragedy a "master class in bad PR."
"Their social media accounts have been a stream of self-absorbed posts about how they are the ultimate victims, and they seem oblivious to how tone-deaf their continued self-promotion is," she said. "The Baldwins need to face this trial with the seriousness it deserves."
Baldwin's attorneys assert that he was told the gun was safe to use prior to fatally shooting Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza, and that he didn't bear responsibility for checking it beforehand. Prosecutors have countered that under New Mexico law, the actor was responsible for the safety of his firearm.
The trial is expected to conclude in less than two weeks, and it remains to be seen whether Baldwin's reality show announcement and behavior will have any impact on the outcome.
