Controversial right-wing author and pundit Candace Owens drew the ire of social media users over a tweet she posted saying Alec Baldwin accidentally shooting a cinematographer while on set was “poetic justice” for the actor’s criticisms of Donald Trump.
Baldwin, 63, fatally shot Halyna Hutchins while they were on the set of Rust on Thursday. The movie’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured in the shooting. Following the fatal incident, an affidavit stated Baldwin was informed the prop gun was safe to use before he pulled the trigger, the Associated Press reported. The prop gun reportedly contained a real bullet.
But in a tweet that has since been deleted, Owens appeared to mock Baldwin’s woes, saying the actor spent “four years dedicated to painting Donald Trump and his supporters as evil murderers,” Independent reported. During his presidency, Baldwin made fun of Trump by portraying him on Saturday Night Live. The former president and his supporters did not take that lightly.
“What has happened to Alec would be an example of poetic justice if it weren’t for the actual innocent people that were murdered by him. Pray for their families. So sad,” Owens added.
The 32-year-old, however, later deleted the tweet before posting, “Will correct that last tweet to say Alec Baldwin *killed* someone- not murdered someone, as murder carries a different legal definition.
“Literally not one single thing that Alec Baldwin has said about Donald Trump and his supporters is going to age well.”
Her comments, however, sparked swift backlash. “How horrible can anyone be to take perverse perverse pleasure in such a tragedy? Someone died and you’re basically sitting back and reveling in their accidental death,” a user wrote, per Independent.
“Halyna Hutchins death should not be weaponised,” another user also said.
“I have a genuine dislike for AB but I would never wish an accident like this on anyone not even him… This is not a political opportunity,” a user also wrote. “On something like this, your usual ‘shock value’ tweet is offensive.”
In an Instagram post, Baldwin’s daughter, Ireland, also slammed Owens’ comments. “You are the most disgusting, hateful, cancerous human being I’ve ever come across,” she wrote.
“Regardless of your foul opinions most of the time, the fact that you would disrespect the life of a woman who was accidentally and tragically killed…Shame on you.”
She continued: “Be a Republican. Be unvaccinated. I don’t give a f**k. There are plenty of liberal ones that I support as well… But one f***ing thing I find myself doing is being RESPECTFUL.”
Owens isn’t the only person to ridicule Baldwin for the accidental shooting. Donald Trump Jr. also shared posts on Instagram making fun of the actor.
