Alec Baldwin has reportedly had to undergo surgery after suffering from "very intense chronic pain."
It was announced via Instagram by his 39-year-old wife Hilaria that the 30 Rock actor, 65, had received a hip replacement - which she said was "a long time necessary".
"Alec got a new hip today…it was a long time necessary. We have been through so much together…as your partner and as you heal, I want so very much for you to leave this very intense chronic pain chapter behind and improve your quality of life," she began in the caption.
The mother-of-seven then continued by thanking the doctors and medical staff, as well as "the other amazing people who so generously are bringing him safely through this".
Baldwin has been unable to keep away from the spotlight following his highly-publicized involvement in the upcoming movie Rust, which was filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was during the filming of this flick during the pandemic that a prop gun Baldwin was holding accidentally misfired, fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
The Hollywood star had initially been charged with involuntary manslaughter back in January following the tragic death of 42-year-old Hutchins in October 2021. The news divided the movie industry, as well as the general public, with many people arguing over who should be blamed for the incident. Baldwin had been rehearsing a scene using the prop gun when it misfired.
Dave Halls, the assistant director on the movie, had reportedly signed a plea agreement for the charge of the negligent use of a deadly weapon, per Sky News. Ever since the tragedy, Baldwin has maintained his innocence, accusing the movie's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed - who was also charged with involuntary manslaughter - of not ensuring the weapon was safe.
In late April, all the charges against Baldwin were dropped, despite Santa Fe prosecutors initially seeking two involuntary manslaughter charges against him. Halyna's widower, Matthew Hutchins, reached an undisclosed settlement with Baldwin back in October, after taking legal action against the star - as well as the movie's production companies, producers, and key crew members - over the wrongful death of his wife.
Following the end of filming Rust, which had resumed earlier this year, it was reported that Baldwin was cast in an upcoming movie about the devastating Kent State shootings in 1970, which left four unarmed students dead and nine others injured. Directed by Karen Slade, the story is set against the backdrop of the US' involvement in the Vietnam War, and follows events that occurred on May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire during a peaceful war protest of the National Guard presence on campus.
Deadline detailed that the movie will focus on the shocking events that transpired that day, and will zone in on why massacres such as this continue to happen - an interesting next project choice for Baldwin... Perhaps even a little too soon.
