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.’
Rittenhouse, 18, was acquitted by jurors on all charges – two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide for wounding a third man, and two counts of recklessly endangering safety – after killing two people during protests marred by arson, rioting and looting on Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Donald Trump was one of the few voices in Rittenhouse’s camp as he congratulated Rittenhouse, a supporter of the former president, for beating the rap.
Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Friday following more than three days of deliberations
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.’
She included an illustration that depicted Rittenhouse bragging about the killings to his bar pals and later appearing to sob over his actions in court.
Actress Rosanna Arquette said the ruling prompted her to lose faith in the legal process.
‘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.’
Rittenhouse could be seen smiling in the backseat of an SUV as he was driven away from the Kenosha courthouse Friday afternoon after being cleared of all charges.
Rittenhouse faced life in prison if convicted on the most serious charge for using an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle to kill two men – Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum – and wound a third, Gaige Grosskreutz.
Actress Rosanna Arquette and former Fox News personality Megyn Fox shared vastly different perspectives on the trial outcome
Actress Sophia Bush tweeted: ‘no words, just fury’ alongside the above illustration
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly
Bernice King, daughter of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, reacted to the verdict in a series of tweets.
‘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.’
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly was one of the few luminaries that said the jury got 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.’
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