Dramatic Music, Slow Motion, a Trailer: ABC’s Gross Repair Job to Save Baldwin

For a long time, it’s been impossible to call ABC News an actual news outlet. But Good Morning AmericaGeorge Stephanopoulos was the co-host and reminded the audience of that as he attempted to use gross PR tactics to rehabilitate Alec Baldwin (Democrat), following his shooting of a crewmember on the set.

The interview was backed by dramatic music, slow motion, a trailer and assurances by Stephanopoulos that Baldwin is a “broken,” “crushed” man. This trailer is nearly two minutes in length and features an attempt to capture the heart. 

It was so awful that Mika Brzezinski, a liberal MSNBC host, was horrified. Freitag, she ranted: “But just the music and the producing of it… is just so cringeworthy…. And they put this dramatic music as if almost to make sure they get a lot of viewers and they play up the drama or I don’t know, I am so uncomfortable.” 

On Friday, Good Morning AmericaA total of 16 minutes was devoted to Baldwin’s interview. Vouching for the actor, Stephanopoulos assured, “Baldwin has been my friend for many years, and I’ve never witnessed him as crushed. Baldwin insists that he didn’t trigger the prop gun. The bullet contained shockingly a live shot..” 

Multi-segment interviews like this one, which aired also on ABC Thursday evening and can be viewed on Hulu are clearly intended to help Baldwin avoid any possible charges. 

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS – The trigger wasn’t written in. 

ALEC BALDWIN: The trigger was not pulled. I did not pull the trigger. 

STEPHANOPOULOS 

BALDWIN – No. I won’t shoot at any person and trigger a weapon.

Stephen Gutowski, a firearms expert and former employee of the Media Research Center was skeptical. He explained the following at Reload 

This sounds absurd at first. A gun that fires without its trigger depressed is extremely rare. Safeties are designed for modern firearms and replicas from antique guns to stop them firing while the trigger is still pulled. It only really happens when the gun’s firing mechanism is damaged, or there is a significant design flaw.

That’s why most gun owners and firearms safety trainers are highly skeptical of any claim a gun just “went off” absent user error.

Of course, Stephanopoulos didn’t say anything like that. Instead, Stephanopoulos said that when GMA journalist Cecilia Vega marveled, “You can see just how broken he is through this,” Stephanopoulos sympathized: “So clearly.” To Baldwin, he wondered, “Is this the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?” 

Stephanopoulos raised a few fundamental points. For example, he asked: “Why did not you inspect the gun by yourself?” He was tasked with rehabilitating the actor following the horrible shooting. 

Progressive Insurance sponsored the pro-Baldwin propaganda. To let Progressive Insurance know your thoughts, click on this link. 

Here is a portion of the transcript. Click “expand” to read more. 

Good Morning America
12/3/2021

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS – Good morning America, this Friday morning. This is my detailed interview with Alec Baldwin. Baldwin claims he didn’t pull the trigger, and believes someone else is behind the Rust weapon. ABC News exclusive. Alec Baldwin opens up about the events that lead to Halyna Hutchins’ death as a cinematographer on a film set. 

ALEC BALDWIN: It was said that I had been given an empty gun. 

STEPHANOPOULOS – Asking the central question of the investigation — Where did the live round originate? 

BALDWIN – I was not aware that the live round could be found in this gun for at least 45 minutes. It wasn’t until then that it dawned on me. 

STEPHANOPOULOS. The actor walks us through the steps of what occurred on-set. Why didn’t you check the gun for yourself? She also talks about her emotional meeting with Halyna and her son, after the tragedy. 
        

7:02

STEPHANOPOULOS – We start with Alec Baldwin. He spoke for the first time since Halyna Utchins’ death on set of the movie “Film Set Disaster”. Baldwin is someone I know for years. He has never been so broken. Baldwin insists that he didn’t trigger the prop gun. The bullet contained shockingly a live bullet. 

…

STEPHANOPOULOS – The trigger wasn’t written in. 

BALDWIN: The trigger was not pulled. The trigger was not pulled. 

STEPHANOPOULOS 

BALDWIN: I wouldn’t point a gun at anyone and then pull the trigger. Never. This was the training that I received. Halyna was my partner in crime. She assumed that the gun would be empty. Except for those dummy shots. It goes off when I let go the hammer. They are all shocked. They’re shocked.  It’s loud. The gun is loud. It was meant to be empty. It was said that the gun was empty. There were no cosmetic rounds. A flash round was all that there was. As she fell, I was unsure if it was because she had fainted. I didn’t realize there was a live round in the gun until 45 minutes or an hour later. 

…

CECILIA VEGA – You can clearly see how broken he looks through these. 

STEPHANOPOULOS = So clear. 

7:31

STEPHANOPOULOS – We continue to my interview with Alec Baldwin. The relationship Baldwin has with the young armourer who was responsible for guns and the important question of how live bullets got on the set. This is how it could have happened. Now the key question is: Why was the real bullet found in the Rust prop gun? 

…

BALDWIN – Why didn’t you check it yourself? 

…

STEPHANOPOULOS. Some crew members claim that the set is riddled by safety concerns. These allegations have been refuted by the producers. 

LANE LUPPER, the first camera assistant to quit production: There was more than one person involved. It took everything to make this happen. 

…

STEPHANOPOULOS. Is it the most terrible thing you’ve ever experienced? 

BALDWIN: Yes, yes. Yeah. You know, because when I look back at my past I wonder what could I’ve done.