Right-Wing 'Reacher' Fans Flip Out After Alan Ritchson Calls Trump A 'Rapist And A Con-Man'

[Bundbuster]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reacher-alan-ritchson-trump-rapist-con-man_n_661ebd22e4b015646f796589

“Christians today have become the most vitriolic tribe,” said Ritchson, who himself identifies as a follower of Jesus. “It is so antithetical to what Jesus was calling us to be and to do.”

“Trump is a rapist and a con man,” he went on, “And yet the entire Christian church seems to be treat him like he’s their poster child and it’s unreal. I don’t understand it.”

Many conservatives seemed incensed by Ritchson’s remarks and vowed to boycott “Reacher,” which follows a brawny vagabond ex-Army police officer with a taste for vigilantism.

While the backlash from the MAGA sect was loud, there were also plenty of people who applauded the star for speaking his mind.

[Doodley]

1. In that case, I must watch Reacher! Actor speaks the truth and MAGA crowd can't take it!

[Bundbuster]

3. LOL - I just this minute added it to my Prime playlist

For that very same reason.

[Demsrule86]

4. You won't be disappointed. There are two seasons now with another on the way...

I think it is on prime. It is an excellent series and the books are fabulous too...I suggest them...

[rubbersole]

21. Yes. The books (Lee Child) are excellent.

I listened to them driving to work - 1 hour each way. Was always the highlight of each of those days.

[dameatball]

40. Yes the Reacher books and the Preston/Child books also. I enjoyed the tv series, but haven't seen it in a while.

Loved "Relic' when I was younger. Pendergast novels are also good.

[Demsrule86]

66. I have read all of them...I like the Joe Pickett series too by CJ Box.

There are two seasons of those books streaming. Sadly it was cancelled even though it was very successful in terms of the numbers who watched. I read quite a bit. I read everything...cereal boxes if that is all that is available!

[Mr. Evil]

12. I binge watched it with a free trial.

Great show. Lots of humor too.

[CaptainTruth]

19. It's good!

[NonPC]

36. Better Reacher Than Tom Cruise

I always liked him so much better than Cruise. Hard to believe Cruise in a "kick a$$ and take names" role when he is 4'10" or so. Okay, go ahead and flame me.

[oldsoftie]

45. TOTALLY agree. Always loved Cruise's action movies, BUT

You really had to suspend disbelief at how well he could kick everyone's ass
This guy has the look that you WANT to see.

[Orrex]

47. I saw it from the opposite side, sort of

It’s hard to root for a seven foot tall mountain of indestructible muscle, and it’s even harder to imagine that anyone would readily pick a fight with him. Also, such an imposing and invulnerable figure comes off as a bit of a bully, in a way, like Superman beating the shit out of a shoplifter.

I like the show, but Cruise’s Reacher actually seemed like he had to worry about injuries.

[Abolishinist]

62. Having read and enjoyed ten or so of the novels,

I'm somewhat in the middle, my mind of course having processed some sort of image of Reacher.

For me, Cruise was too small, I can't see him taking on four guys in a bar and coming out ahead. Ritchson, on the other hand, is too overwhelming. My image of Reacher is someone who is somewhat intimidating, i.e. one or two average guys on their own might think twice, but not so much so that four or so would back down.

[Orrex]

64. Kind of a Goldilocks strong man!

I haven't read the books, but I can see what you're getting at.

I should mention that I liked season 1 of Reacher on Amazon, but I haven't yet watched 2.

[pwb]

2. I liked Reacher. Great series.

You can tell he is a good man even when he is acting.

[Beartracks]

5. MAGA backlash is always loud, but increasingly signifies nothing. n/t

[mainer]

6. Terrific series

Thrilling and funny. Tongue in cheek and completely unrealistic, but very well done.

[CurtEastPoint]

7. I fell in lust for him when he was in Blue Mountain State

But he's even better now he's all 'growed up!'

[DoBW]

8. respect, my man

F*ck dwayne johnson aka the rock

[Giordano Burno]

9. The Truth Sounds Revolutionary

When you’re surrounded by lies.

[babylonsister]

16. So true, and welcome

to DU.

[SergeStorms]

23. Yes, welcome!

It's always nice to hear from new members. Put your feet up and stay awhile.

[Bundbuster]

10. Imagine if every actress/actor of conscience were to speak their mind

instead of taking the Michael Jordan "Republicans buy sneakers too" silent stance. It would be beyond invaluable.

[SergeStorms]

27. "Hollywood's top 25 stars who support Trump."

I saw this click bait story on the inter-tubes the other day, so I said, "why not?"
I was interested in seeing who these 25 Hollywood "stars" were.

They started off with;
1. James Woods. "B" list, at best.
2. Kirsti Alley. She's dead.
3. Ted Nugent. Hollywood?
4. Scott Baio. "C" list, at best.
5. Jon Voight. "B" list, at best.
6. Kid Rock. Hollywood?
And then they rattled off a bunch of people I've never heard of. Probably 10 names I'd never seen before.
17. Dennis Quaid. The brothers must have grown up on toxic waste site.
18. Randy Quaid. See above.
19. Roseanne Barr.
20. Jim Caviezel "B" list, at best.
21. Kevin Sorbo. Who?
22. Ye. 'Nuff said.
23. Taryn Manning. Who?
24. Sexyy Red. ??????????
25. Kelsey Grammer. Should know better.

So that's the BIG LIST, of the "top" 25 Hollywood "stars" who back Trump.

Pitiful. 🤣

[DoBW]

33. dennis quaid, kelsey grammer ?

never would have thought. don't forget gina carrano (mandalorian) -- Disney gave her the boot recently

[SergeStorms]

35. Gina Carano, one of those MMA fighters..

She gets her jollies by kicking the crap out of other people. Then she got small parts in a few "action" movies. Yeah, that's the Trump mentality in a nutshell.

Not exactly a Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman, or Anne Hathaway.

[padah513]

57. Yep

She had a pretty big part in the Mandalorian and then she posted some nonsense about vaccines and got the boot.

[BonnieJW]

44. Clint Eastwood

Although he looks dead

[TexasDem69]

52. Is Clint a Trump supporter?

I knew he was pretty conservative.

[SergeStorms]

60. Yeah.

I wonder why they neglected "tough guy" Eastwood, but put a thoroughly deceased Kirsti Alley on it?
I guess you'd have to be a republican to understand it all.

[Traurigkeit]

46. These names are not even on 'C' list (striaght to video) Casting books these days

[Abolishinist]

61. James Woods. I knew he was a reich-winger, but didn't know this about him...

After Trump claimed the 2020 general election was rigged, the independent analysis site Just Security released a report naming the top purveyors of voter fraud misinformation. Analyzing 49 million tweets, researchers ranked Woods' Twitter account as the #1 spreader of election fraud claims on the site in late 2020.

https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-celebrities-supporting-donald-trump-over-joe-biden-1849626

[SergeStorms]

65. Holy shnykies!

Is that idiot ever delusional! No wonder nobody will give him work.

I hope he put enough of his movie money away when he was younger and could still get the occasional role.

When someone refers to Trump as a "business mogul" you know they're not playing with a full deck.

[not fooled]

11. He projects goodness

That’s why he’s so great as Reacher.

[PortTack]

13. If more would speak up...make it once again vulgar, impolite and unpopular to be openly hateful

[Cheezoholic]

14. So some idiots incensed some idiots applauded him. You know what you get when you divide a rotten piece of cheese?

Two rotten pieces of cheese

[SupportSanity]

15. Funny... I read it as the Church treats him as if he's their pastor child.

Seems to fit. They really need a leader in the worst way... even if it's him.

[progressoid]

17. Well, they hate cancel culture so his job should be safe.

[pandr32]

39. That should be a meme everywhere.

[erodriguez]

18. Reacher is a great show. It's like if King Kong was actually Sherlock Holmes in fatigues.

Very entertaining and great to hear that the star is letting people know the truth about Trump.

[aggiesal]

20. Truth hurts ...

[SergeStorms]

22. The cult leader is never wrong.

Jesus used to be their cult leader, but I guess he didn't rape enough, pillage enough, lie enough, or hate people enough.

The evagelicals have found a new messiah, and they'll follow his fat orange ass right into hell. 👹

[WarGamer]

24. I like the show... I LOVE it now.

[Cha]

25. "Flip out".. 'cause Reacher Speaks the Truth!

Good on Alan Ritchman!

I knew I liked him

[Sibelius Fan]

26. The first season of Reacher was much better than the second.

Nice to see the actor speaking out.

[Brother Buzz]

32. The first episode opened with Howlin' Wolf's Smokestack Lightning and cemented the tone for the entire season

Lee Child's Reacher is a huge Blues enthusiast and traveled to Margrave, GA where blues singer, Blind Blake supposedly died.

We had to wait for the end of season one, as Reacher was leaving town to hear Blind Blake's Police Dog Blues

All my life I've been a travelin' man
All my life I've been a travelin' man
Stayin' alone and doin' the best I can

[tulipsandroses]

28. I loved the Reacher movies with Tom Cruise. Well the first one was really good. The sequel was decent but not as good.

I tried watching the Reacher series when it first started, but it did not live up to the movie version and I got bored with it and stopped watching. I might just give it a go again. I liked Ritchson in Fast and Furious. Anyhoo, good for him for speaking out. MAGATS are such snowflakes.

[TxGuitar]

58. Did you read any of the books?

Tom Cruise as Reacher is like having Lassie play Mr Ed.

[Skittles]

29. I'm giving him points

I watch Reacher, and was disappointed to hear him going on about Jesus - always raises red flags with me - but, if he recognizes Trump for what he is he's not as bad as most "Christians" I know

[nuxvomica]

30. Reacher has a strict moral code, owns nothing, and keeps in shape

So the exact opposite of TFG.

[PCIntern]

31. One of my patient's children was a regular

On the show last season. The dad says that Ritchson is a terrific guy.

[aocommunalpunch]

34. If you like that, you may or may not like

His take on cops. Dude gets mad respect for his take on THEM.

[pandr32]

37. I am a fan, now, and will support his projects.

He spoke out with what should be obvious to everyone. Good on him.

[ck4829]

38. Wonderful words, K&R

[mahina]

41. That statement just cracked a point open at least

[boyedav1969]

42. It's fascinating how many self-described Christians...

...are blind to their own idolatry. Sometimes cults are cults.

[ananda]

43. I like this. I like the Reacher show too.

...

[planetc]

48. How delightful that Ritchman and John Fugelsang would hit it off so well. Both readers of the New Testament.

Because Ritchman is a terrific Reacher. After I retired, one of the first things I did was read all the Reacher novels I had missed over the years. My favorite Ritchman interview shows him and his wife being interviewed, and he says they met doing ballet. The interviewer recoils in disbelief, and Ritchman jumps up and assumes the third position in ballet, and takes a few steps. (Third position involves having your feet pointing in opposite directions while closely parallel with each other. Do not try this position at home unless both your knees are in very good condition.) My conclusion after musing on Lee child's Reacher and Ritchman's Reacher is that Ritchman is as close to the author's conception as we deserve to get.

[Grins]

49. There are a lot of TRUE evangelicals who agree with him.

And have openly questioned other evangelical’s “deeply held religious values” when even considering someone so antithetical to Christianity as Trump.

[Grins]

51. Remember that classic confrontation "The West Wing?"

Where President Bartlett comes down hard on evangelicals and tells them out of the White House!

[PatrickforB]

50. We are BIG fans of Reacher! Kudos to Ritchson for saying this. We will be watching every episode! n/t

[Cuthbert Allgood]

53. These are clearly the same people that cluelessly wear

Punisher stuff. Specifically the blue line Punisher stuff when the Punisher fucking hates cops. They are clueless.

And they didn't know that Rage Against the Machine has always hated them.

They aren't "it" getters for the most part.

[Chainfire]

54. But wait! He is a rapist and a con man. Are right wingers disputing that?

I thought that it just didn't matter to them.

[OverBurn]

55. I absolutely love the Reacher series. Now I love Ritchson even more. Everything he said is dead on.

[Paper Roses]

56. Time for me to sell my collection of Reacher books.

I have been a fan since for first book and have a whole collection. Maybe it is time for me to sell them. The books go into far more detail than the videos on Amazon Prime but I don't need Prime so I have not seen the episodes. Enjoy them and read the books!

[Orrex]

59. Wait, they're not thinking of ***canceling*** him, are they?

I thought only woke pinko commie liberal socialist Demonrats did that.

[jeffreyi]

63. I did not much care for this show.

But now I do.