Reacher's Alan Ritchson Slams His Former Classmate Matt Gaetz in Fiery Comments: ‘We Are Adversaries'

Mar. 15, 2025

From Left: Alan Ritchson; and Matt Gaetz.Photo:John Nacion/Variety via Getty; Joe Raedle/Getty

John Nacion/Variety via Getty; Joe Raedle/Getty

Alan RitchsonandMatt Gaetzare “adversaries,” theReacherstar has claimed.

In an interview withGQpublished on Wednesday, Feb. 19, the actor spoke on his history with the former U.S. representative. The two men, both 42, went to the same high school in Niceville, Fla., Ritchson said, and he has since developed an extremely negative view of the disgraced politician.

“That motherf—–. We are adversaries,” Ritchson began.

Gaetz has come under fire in recent months following the House Ethics Committee’sbombshell reportclaiming he paid for sex with a 17-year-old, in addition to illicit drug use and accepting improper gifts. Those claims also pushed him towithdrawhis name from consideration for a position inPresident Donald Trump’scabinet as attorney general.

Just after his cabinet nomination, Gaetzresignedfrom his House seat. At the time, the House Ethics Committee was just weeks away from releasing the report. His resignation on Nov. 13 marked the end of his nearly eight-year tenure.

From Left: Alan Ritchson; and Matt Gaetz.Amy Sussman/Getty; Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty; Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty

“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 toldGQ.

He added, “There’s part of me that wants to get into politics to outdo somebody like him for good, and there’s part of me that’s like, I’m not duplicitous enough to succeed in politics.”

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Ritchson is the star of Amazon Prime’sReacher,which released the first three episodes of its third season on Feb. 20. The remaining five episodes will air every Thursday through March 27.

source: people.com