The Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting meme refers to the tragic accidental discharge of a prop gun on the set of the film Rust in October 2021, which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The meme culture surrounding this event primarily focuses on Baldwin's subsequent media appearances, most notably his 2021 ABC News interview where he claimed he never actually pulled the trigger of the revolver. This specific claim became a focal point for internet skeptics and creators, who used the imagery to illustrate themes of denial, blame-shifting, or absurd logical fallacies. While sensitive due to the tragic nature of the event, the template is frequently utilized in legal commentary and meta-humor regarding accountability.