Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict Draws Rebuke From Hollywood: ‘This Is Not Justice’
Within minutes of Kyle Rittenhouse being declared not guilty on all counts in his murder trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin, social media was flooded with reactions.
The Rittenhouse verdict prompted strong responses from the Hollywood community, which by and large seemed to have expected the not guilty ruling.
“The Daily Show” took a comic approach, tweeting, “JUST IN: Judge Schroeder sentences Kyle Rittenhouse to come give him a big hug.”
JUST IN: Judge Schroeder sentences Kyle Rittenhouse to come give him a big hug
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) November 19, 2021
“Acquitting Kyle Rittenhouse sends a message to future Kyle Rittenhouses that they’re free to incite violence and then claim self-defense. This is not justice,” read the tweet on “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” account.
Acquitting Kyle Rittenhouse sends a message to future Kyle Rittenhouses that they're free to incite violence and then claim self-defense. This is not justice.
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) November 19, 2021
“Star Trek” alum George Takei tweeted, “Justice denied is a body blow to our national psyche. On trial was not only a killer, but a system that continues to kill. Today that system defeated true justice, once again. But mark these words: We will never stop fighting for what is right and just.”
Justice denied is a body blow to our national psyche. On trial was not only a killer, but a system that continues to kill.
Today that system defeated true justice, once again. But mark these words: We will never stop fighting for what is right and just.— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 19, 2021
“Westworld” star Jeffrey Wright shared a meme of Russian President Vladmir Putin clapping.
OJ on the Rittenhouse verdict. pic.twitter.com/DFz4mpYIye
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) November 19, 2021
Actor Patton Oswalt posted, “wanna be a supreme court justice wanna murder 2 people & not go to jail better 1) cut some onions 2) be white (MUSIC CUE: “Cherry Pie”).”
wanna be a supreme court justice
wanna murder 2 people & not go to jail better
1) cut some onions
2) be white
(MUSIC CUE: “Cherry Pie”)— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 19, 2021
MSNBC host Joy Reid asked fans to think of the families of those who were killed, writing, “While we’re out reacting and processing the Rittenhouse verdict, please spare a thought for the families of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, who are mourning, and for Gaige Grosskreutz and Jacob Blake. There is nothing here but tragedy, and these families are in pain.”
While we’re out reacting and processing the Rittenhouse verdict, please spare a thought for the families of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, who are mourning, and for Gaige Grosskreutz and Jacob Blake. There is nothing here but tragedy, and these families are in pain.
— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid
(@JoyAnnReid) November 19, 2021
Read on for more reactions:
If you’re a Black teenage male here are some things you can’t expect to get away with
1) illegally getting a gun
2) claiming you’re protecting property that isn’t yours & you weren’t asked to protect
3) killing 2 people w/ the gun
4) fleeing the scene
You ain’t Kyle Rittenhouse— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) November 19, 2021
It has now been put it out there that vigilantes can just go and kill people protesting issues like racial equality whenever they want and get away with it. Think about that for a second.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) November 19, 2021
In other news you could see coming from a mile away… https://t.co/tR8M2cvdVS
— Daniel Dae Kim (@danieldaekim) November 19, 2021
Failure to hold Kyle Rittenhouse accountable sends a clear message that violence, hatred, and racism can and will win in our nation. America, we must do better. We must work towards a nation where racism, poverty, and violence are replaced with peace, justice, and equity.
— Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) November 19, 2021