Matt Gaetz Calls Out Hollywood’s ‘Reacher’ for Pushing Fake Feud Claims

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz pushed back against comments made by Reacher star Alan Ritchson, who claimed in a recent interview that they were “adversaries” while attending high school together in Florida.

Gaetz responded to the remarks on X Thursday afternoon, writing, “Hollywood apparently changes people!”

The former congressman clarified that he and Ritchson were both members of the Speech and Debate team at Niceville High School, located in Florida’s Panhandle. Gaetz graduated in 2000, a year before Ritchson.

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Ritchson’s comments came during an interview with GQ, where he expressed his disapproval of Gaetz and the continued support the former lawmaker received from voters in Florida.

“That motherf**ker. We are adversaries,” Ritchson said.

He went on to criticize Floridians for repeatedly electing Gaetz, saying, “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!”

Hollywood apparently changes people!

Alan was a year behind me in high school and we were both on the Speech and Debate Team.

We were not “adversaries” as I won debate championships and Alan did more acting stuff. As I recall, his older brother Eric won more often than Alan… https://t.co/7FjSf0TnDd

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 20, 2025

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Gaetz responded by saying he could not recall any animosity between them and pointed out that while he focused on debate championships, Ritchson concentrated on acting.

“We were not ‘adversaries’ as I won debate championships and Alan did more acting stuff,” Gaetz wrote. “As I recall, his older brother Eric won more often than Alan did.”

He also recalled positive interactions with Ritchson’s family, particularly his mother, who worked as the computer lab monitor at their high school.

“He was always very nice to me (and everyone) and his mother, the computer lab monitor, loved me,” Gaetz added.

Gaetz said he had even attended a retirement party for Ritchson’s father, Dave Ritchson, at the invitation of Ritchson’s mother, Vicke Ritchson.

The event, held at a karaoke bar called Lewbos in Niceville, featured Gaetz performing the J. Geils Band hit Centerfold, while Ritchson’s father sang Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay.

Alan Ritchson, originally born in North Dakota, moved with his family to Niceville when he was 10 years old after his parents were stationed at Eglin Air Force Base.

Over the years, he built a successful career in acting, eventually starring in the Amazon Prime series Reacher.

Meanwhile, Gaetz pursued a political career, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives before winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016.

After securing reelection in November 2024, Gaetz resigned from Congress following his selection as Attorney General nominee by then President-elect Donald Trump.

However, after meeting with Senate Republicans on November 21, Gaetz withdrew from consideration, stating that he did not want to be a distraction as Trump prepared to return to the White House.

At the time of his withdrawal, the House Ethics Committee had reopened an investigation into allegations that Gaetz paid over $90,000 to 12 women between 2017 and 2020 for sex and/or drugs, according to a draft report.

The investigation had previously been closed without formal charges but was revisited amid renewed scrutiny of Gaetz’s past conduct.

While Gaetz has continued his career in media as a talk show host, Ritchson remains active in Hollywood, with his role in Reacher bringing him widespread recognition.

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