Reacher star Alan Ritchson has upset a large portion of his fanbase after making comments about Donald Trump that the former president’s followers viewed as offensive.

Reacher

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In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ritchson—a devout Christian—discussed his faith and how he sees politics as a corrupting force within Christianity.

“I’m a Christian quite simply because of what Jesus calls us to do,” Ritchson told THR. “Love other people until death. It doesn’t mean we’re all to be hung on a cross, but how can I suffer for you? That is a beautiful thing.”

But Christians have become “ the most vitriolic tribe” the 41-year-old actor added. “It is so antithetical to what Jesus was calling us to be and to do.”

While Reacher was popular with conservatives—it was often hailed as an “anti-woke” show during its second season—Ritchson didn’t bat an eye calling out the former president.

“Trump is a rapist and a con man,” he said in the interview, “and yet the entire Christian church seems to be treat him like he’s their poster child and it’s unreal. I don’t understand it.”

Ritchson didn’t mince words when discussing the Catholic Church, either. “It’s worth saying that the atrocities that are happening in the church that are being actively covered up, even to this day with people not being held accountable, is repulsive,” he said. “I can’t for one second support the Catholic Church while there are still cardinals, bishops and priests being passed around with known pedophilic tendencies.”

The actor also discussed unaccountable police departments, the problems with child models and other issues he sees facing Hollywood and our culture broadly speaking. It’s a remarkably candid interview.

Ritchson’s next project is the upcoming Guy Ritchie film The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare starring Henry Cavill. It looks like a fun WWII action romp.

I covered Season 2 of Reacher here on this blog and was disappointed immensely in what felt like a major downgrade from Season 1, filled with bad fight choreography, tedious dialogue and a clumsy plot. Many Reacher fans are saying they won’t watch the next season because of Ritchson’s comments.

It’s always risky to speak publicly about your political and religious beliefs especially in today’s hyper-politicized climate (where even a TV series can be viewed as part of a larger culture war). But I do appreciate his candor and willingness to speak his mind, even if it costs him fans. Whether you agree with him or not, that takes courage.

My hope is that the show’s creators take criticism of Season 2 to heart and Season 3 is a comeback story. Season 1 was just better in every imaginable way. That, to me, matters more than what the show’s star has to say about Trump.

Various outlets have reported that Ritchson took to Twitter to address the controversy, but Ritchson has posted to his Instagram account that he does not actually have a Twitter/X account so this appears to be an error.