“Reacher” star Alan Ritchson revealed his childhood feud with former highschool classmate ex-Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz on Wednesday, describing the politician as his adversary.
The 42-year-old actor didn’t maintain again his disdain for Gaetz when the politician’s title got here up throughout a latest interview.
“That motherf–ker. We are adversaries,” Ritchson informed GQ.
Ritchson – who portrays the titular character Jack Reacher within the Amazon Prime sequence – was born in North Dakota however his household moved to the Sunshine State when he was 10.
His dad and mom, Dave and Vickie – each airmen – have been stationed at Eglin Air Power Base and settled down in Niceville within the Nineteen Nineties, Mid Bay Information reported.
He attended Niceville Excessive College the place Gaetz additionally studied. Gaetz graduated from the celebrated college in 2000, a yr earlier than Ritchson.
Ritchson expressed his displeasure together with his fellow Floridians who continued to vote for Gaetz to symbolize Florida’s 1st District, which makes up the westernmost a part of the state’s panhandle.
“It’s shocking to me that the panhandle of Florida continues to vote for somebody—knowing everything we know about him and the promises that he’s made behind closed doors about pardoning certain criminals—he’s just not a good dude!” Ritchson informed GQ.
Gaetz represented the district from 2016 till his resignation in 2024.
His time in DC was marred by a number of controversies associated to the Home ethics guidelines.
He was additionally below investigation for allegations he paid 12 ladies greater than $90,000 for intercourse and/or medicine,” stated a draft of the Home’s ethics report towards the 42-year-old launched in December 2024.
Gaetz was additionally accused of getting intercourse with a minor. Allegations he has denied.
Gaetz was reelected to his seat in 2024 however resigned on Nov. 13 after then-President-elect Donald Trump tapped him to be his Lawyer Normal.
He withdrew his nomination on Nov. 21 after a gathering with Senate Republicans to not be a distraction to Trump’s return to the White Home.
Ritchson revealed he thought of operating for workplace to “outdo somebody like (Gaetz) but decided against it because he’s not “duplicitous enough to succeed in politics.”
The actor, who stated the demographics for the “Reacher” viewers is a close to even break up between women and men and Democrats and Republicans, shared an perception into his political ideology.
“There are certain people that do a good job of staying true to who they are, but they’re ineffective,” he stated.
