Actor Alan Ritchson is facing renewed boycott calls from MAGA viewers as the fourth season of his hit Prime Video series “Reacher” begins its weekly run. Ritchson built much of his following by portraying a patriotic former Army investigator who dispenses rough justice, but his repeated attacks on President Donald Trump have alienated some of the viewers who helped make the show successful. The latest backlash erupted shortly before the new season arrived.
“Reacher” follows Jack Reacher, a former Army military police major who wanders the country confronting criminals, corrupt officials and powerful organizations. Its fourth season premiered on Prime Video on August 12th, with Ritchson returning in the title role. The timing placed of the new season the actor’s recent political opinions back in front of the show’s largely action-oriented audience.
Ritchson’s dispute with Trump supporters began well before the latest season. Although the actor has repeatedly discussed his Christian upbringing and personal faith, he used a 2024 interview to condemn Christians who support Trump. His comments produced boycott calls from viewers who believed he had insulted both the president and a major portion of the show’s audience.
As FandomWire reported, Ritchson described a deeply religious childhood before turning his attention to Trump. “We went to daily mass. We were altar boys. I was president of the youth group. I was a music minister. We were involved deep,” he said. “The rules at home followed that same strict tradition.”
Ritchson then accused modern Christians of behaving contrary to Christ’s teachings. “Christians today have become the most vitriolic tribe. It is so antithetical to what Jesus was calling us to be and to do,” he said. The actor followed with an unsubstantiated accusation, “Trump is a rapist and a con man, and yet the entire Christian church seems to treat him like he’s their poster child, and it’s unreal. I don’t understand it.”
Donald Trump has never been criminally charged or convicted of rape, and he has consistently denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. Ritchson nevertheless returned to more increasingly animated lines of attack during the promotional campaigns for his newer projects. He also appeared unwilling to moderate his language as another season of “Reacher” approached.
During a July appearance on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast, Ritchson launched into a profanity-filled rant accusing Trump of “r-ping the world” for personal gain. As Mediaite reported, the actor complained that the White House was “in ruins” and claimed Trump was operating without consequences. “I’m not going to let him go,” Ritchson said. “I f—–g hate it. I hate that that s–t still lives in the world, unabated, unchecked, unresolved, unclean.”
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The tirade prompted public criticism from conservative actors and commentators. “Hercules” star Kevin Sorbo said Ritchson had chosen to attack Trump and Catholics despite knowing that many “Reacher” fans are right-wing. “You’d think he’d be smart enough to keep his mouth shut because fans of Reacher happen to also be right-wing,” Sorbo wrote.
The boycott calls now coincide with Amazon’s release of the show’s fourth season. The first three episodes were released August 12th, with the remaining episodes scheduled to arrive weekly through September 16th. The eight-episode season is based on Lee Child’s novel “Gone Tomorrow.”
Filmmaker Mike Binder questioned why Ritchson would antagonize such a large portion of his potential audience while studios were investing heavily in his career. “Why would this guy do this?” Binder wrote. He accused Ritchson of trying to impress the “cool kids,” adding, “I felt bad for him but worse for the folks that bankrolled him. So fabulously insane the way he acted. Was trying to be cool to the cool kids and I’m sure he didn’t realize how dumb he looked.”