Left-leaning celebrities took to Twitter to voice their outrage over Kyle Rittenhouse’s acquittal on murder charges, with legendary performer Bette Midler calling it a ‘tragic day’ and others bemoaning a perceived miscarriage of justice.
Midler fumed at Friday’s verdict to her 2 million followers, saying: ‘#kylerittenhouse found not guilty tho we SAW HIM kill two.
‘Fundamentally stupid, I predict he will go on to a big career on #Fox and in #RadicalRightWing circles, which counts as a plus with them. A tragic, tragic day for decent, THINKING, feeling, ethical people everywhere.’
Jurors cleared Rittenhouse of all charges, including two counts, attempted murder, and recklessly endangering safety. Rittenhouse had been accused in the deaths of two men during demonstrations that were marred by rioting, arson and looting, which took place on Aug. 25, 2020 in Kenosha.
Donald Trump was among the few people in Rittenhouse’s camp, as he felicitated Rittenhouse for his victory over the Rap.
Following more than three days worth of deliberations Kyle Rittenhouse, was released from all charges by the Kenosha County Courthouse.
The verdict divided the court of public opinion, with left-leaning celebrities expressing outrage over Rittenhouse’s vindication
‘Congratulations to Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges,’ said Trump in an emailed statement.
‘It’s called being found NOT GUILTY – And by the way, if that’s not self defense, nothing is!’
However, his voice was drowned out by a slew of TV and movie stars expressing outrage over Rittenhouse’s vindication.
Talk show house Andy Cohen summed up his thoughts in five words, tweeting: ‘What in the actual f***.’
Actress Sophia Bush – who is not related to the political dynasty – was as succinct.
‘No words,’ she tweeted to her 1.2 million followers. ‘Just fury.’
One illustration she included showed Rittenhouse extolling the deaths of his bar friends and then later appearing to sob in court.
Rosanna Arquette, an actress said she was shaken by the outcome.
‘I have no faith in the justice system In America today,’ she tweeted. ‘I don’t want to live in a country that is ruled by violent ignorant racists.’
After being released from all charges, Rittenhouse was seen looking happy in an SUV’s backseat as he drove away from Kenosha Courthouse on Friday afternoon.
Rittenhouse, convicted for the most grave charge of using an AR-15 semiautomatic gun to kill Anthony Huber (and Joseph Rosenbaum), and wound Gaige Grosskreutz (and other charges) could face life imprisonment
Rosanna Arquette, actress and Megyn Fox, former Fox News personality shared very different views on the outcome of the trial.
Sophia Bush, Actress: “no words. Just fury” alongside the illustration above
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly
Bernice King is the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights leader) and Coretta Scott King. She reacted in several tweets to the verdict.
‘I know so many are weary and tired,’ she tweeted. ‘But justice is not just about verdicts.
‘It is a continuum. We can galvanize around changing our culture, including challenging the difference in how a Black male teen would have been engaged in Kenosha.’
She later added: ‘I believe that it’s extremely important that we get back to the reason why people were even protesting in Kenosha – Police Brutality.’
Megyn, an ex-host of Fox News, was one the few celebrities who said that the jury did get it right.
‘Justice was done,’ she tweeted. ‘Kyle Rittenhouse was unfairly maligned by a dishonest press, and politicians who used him to advance their own fortunes.
‘If there are riots, these smear merchants will shoulder much of the blame.’