Authorities in New Mexico called for a helicopter to be sent “quickly” in the wake of the Alec Baldwin film set shooting. Audio / Broadcastify
Donald Trump Jr has been slammed for selling T-shirts on his website making light of actor Alec Baldwin's accidental fatal shooting on the set of the movie Rust.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot when a prop gun being handled by Baldwin discharged. Director Joel Souza was also injured inthe incident, which has shut down the production and led to calls for better weapon safety in the entertainment industry.
But former US President Donald Trump's eldest son is making light of the tragedy, co-opting a popular phrase by the pro-gun lobby – 'Guns don't kill people, people kill people' – for a tacky slogan T-shirt.
Trump Jr even posted a photoshopped picture of Baldwin himself wearing the T-shirt – which reads 'Guns don't kill people Alec Baldwin kills people' – to his Instagram account, directing fans to buy the shirt from his official website for US$27.99.
Alec Baldwin on the phone outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office on October 21. Photo / AP
The T-shirt has now been removed from the website, following a social media outcry.
"This seems tacky even for him," tweeted Daily Beast editor Molly Jong-Fast.
"I hope the family of Halyna Hutchins sues Donald Trump Jr for every penny he's worth because of the disgusting T-shirts he's selling to profit off of her death," read another popular tweet.
Donald John Trump Jr, right, has been an outspoken critic of Alec Baldwin on social media since last week's fatal shooting. Photo / AP
"Let's forget about the fact that Donald Jr and the rest of the Trumps hate Alec Baldwin for a second. He is literally trying to profit off a woman's horrible, tragic, ACCIDENTAL death. I hope her family sues him for every penny he makes off this shirt and more," tweeted another person.
Trump Jr has been an outspoken critic of Baldwin on social media since last week's fatal shooting, sharing several off-colour memes about the tragedy and writing on Instagram over the weekend: "Why do those who hate guns so much have no problem profiting from them. Why are those who hate guns and profit from them not learning basic gun safety so as to be able to double check these things themselves?"
The T-shirt has now been removed from the website. Photo / Supplied
Of course, Baldwin has history with the Trumps. The actor impersonated Trump Jr's father for many less-than-flattering portrayals on Saturday Night Live throughout his presidency.
