'Reacher' Star Alan Ritchson Makes Wildly Offensive Claim About Cops Murdering People
"Reacher" star Alan Ritchson made some truly unhinged comments about cops.
Ritchson has shot to superstardom over the past couple years, and he's become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood.
He mostly appeals to a traditional fanbase that includes a lot of conservatives and people in middle America who just want to be entertained.
To the surprise of some of his fans, he once wore an "Arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor" t-shirt. Taylor was killed during a police raid after her boyfriend fired first at officers as they made breach. The details around the case remain incredibly murky, but multiple officers involved were charged in connection with the warrant being faulty.
Ritchson thinks it's an example of how police "get away" with murdering citizens.
Alan Ritchson believes police officers murder people and get away with it.
"That was a tragic case. Cops get away with murder all the time, and the fact that we can’t really hold them accountable for their improprieties is disturbing to me. We should completely reform the way that we do it. I mean, you shouldn’t have to spend more time getting an education as a hairstylist than as a cop who’s armed with a deadly weapon. We should make it very hard for people to make mistakes or abuse power in our institutions," Ritchson told The Hollywood Reporter when talking about wearing the shirt and his thoughts on police allegedly getting away with murder.
Yes, Alan Ritchson - a man I thought was smart - apparently believes cops "get away with murder all the time," but the facts tell a very different story.
There have been four shootings of unarmed people in America by police in 2024 so far, according to The Washington Post police shooting database. That represents .000000012% of the nation's population. Now, let's dig into that data:
- Victor Figueroa Roblero - shot during an alleged physical altercation with a Spartanburg Methodist College campus security officer.
- Roshod Graham - shot after allegedly ramming his car into police following an alleged domestic dispute at a gas station.
- Terrell Marshawn Miller - A four-year-old kid shot and killed when 57-year-old Anthony T. George allegedly held a knife to his throat and stomach. Miller died when police attempted to shoot George. The latter was also killed during the exchange.
- Mariah Voigt - shot and killed by police after allegedly motioning like she had a gun following a response to what officers believed was a stolen vehicle.
Obviously, the death of Miller - a young child - is tragic, but it's not murder. It was a hostage rescue attempt to stop a man from murdering him, and the rescue attempt failed. It's tragic, sad, heartbreaking and brutal, but it's absolutely not murder. It's the way things sometimes go.
The other three, seem far from murder. So, what the hell is Ritchson talking about?
Alan Ritchson believes cops "get away with murder all the time." (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage,)
Are there extremely isolated incidents where the police cross the line? Without a question, and you know what happens when those police are found? They are punished in incredibly severe fashion for not just breaking the law, but violating the trust of the public.
The courts have very little mercy for convicted police officers. Look at how Derek Chauvin was handled following the death of George Floyd. No matter your thoughts on the case, he was shown no mercy by the courts as he was sentenced to decades in prison.
So, I'd really like some specifics as to who is getting away with murder.
Alan Ritchson believes cops murder people and get away with it. (Photo by Peru Williams/Variety via Getty Images)
This is America, and Ritchson certainly has the right to say whatever he wants. However, he's not entitled to his own facts, and the facts don't back him up at all. It will be very interesting to see how "Reacher" fans react. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.