Former Representative Matt Gaetz dismissed Hollywood actor Alan Ritchson’s statement suggesting they were rivals during their high school years in Niceville, Florida.
The rivalry that started at Niceville High has now become a national spectacle, with Gaetz and Ritchson on opposing sides.
The conflict arose when Ritchson, known for his role in the popular show Reacher on Amazon Prime, was questioned about Gaetz in a recent GQ interview where he didn’t hold back.
‘That motherf*****. We are adversaries,’ Ritchson declared.
‘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!’
Gaetz fired back on X, downplaying the actor’s scathing remarks.
‘Hollywood apparently changes people!’ the former congressman wrote as he went on to reveal that he and Ritchson were once teammates and on the same speech and debating team.
However, he insisted that their rivalry had never been personal. ‘We were not ‘adversaries’ as I won debate championships and Alan did more acting stuff.’
Ritchson’s comments in particular were a pointed reference to Gaetz’s controversial tenure in Congress, his unwavering allegiance to Donald Trump, and the ethical scandals that have plagued his career.
Matt Gaetz has scoffed at Ritchson’s claim that the two were ‘adversaries’ in their youth during their time at Niceville High School in Niceville in the Florida panhandle
The feud began when Alan Ritchson, star of Amazon Prime’s hit action series Reacher, was asked about Gaetz in a recent interview with GQ. The actor didn’t mince words
Things were apparently not so nice at Niceville High, according to actor Alan Ritchson
Gaetz resigned from the House in 2024 after being nominated by Trump as his pick for Attorney General, but the 42-year-old withdrew his name from contention just a week later following allegations he had a threesome involving a minor.
Gaetz’s recollections about his and Ritchson’s time at high school appears to vary.
‘He was always very nice to me (and everyone) and his mother, the computer lab monitor, loved me,’ he insisted.
According to Gaetz, he was even invited to Ritchson’s father’s retirement party from the armed forces.
‘At her invitation, I even went to his dad’s retirement party from the Air Force. It was held at a karaoke bar called Lewbos in Niceville where his dad sang ‘Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.’
The former lawmaker’s recollections paint a far more cordial picture than the one put forward by Ritchson, whose animosity toward Gaetz seems to have only deepened over the years.
While Ritchson built a career in Hollywood he has expressed interest in getting involved in politics himself, saying, ‘Some days I want to get into politics to outdo somebody like him for good.’
However, he admitted that he might not have the ‘duplicitous’ nature required to succeed in the political arena.
Alan Ritchson is seen on the movie set of The Man with the Bag on Thursday in New York City
Gaetz appears to remember his and Ritchson’s time at high school quite differently
Matt Gaetz tweeted about his memories of attending high school with Alan Ritchson
The Hollywood actor heaped praise on Bernie Sanders, but accepted that ‘good’ guys aren’t necessarily the changemakers that the world needs.
‘There are certain people that do a good job of staying true to who they are, but they’re ineffective,’ he said.
‘I think Bernie Sanders is a hero. But it’s like, what has he accomplished?’
Gaetz, meanwhile, followed in the political footsteps of his father and grandfather, first serving as a Florida state representative before being elected to Congress in 2016. But his rise was accompanied by scandal.
The House Ethics Committee reopened an investigation into Gaetz in late 2024, probing allegations that he had spent over $90,000 on women in a pattern that suggested payments for sex and drugs.
A subsequent report alleged that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz made numerous financial transactions linked to illicit activities, including a reported threesome involving a minor – an allegation he vehemently denies.
In a desperate bid to prevent the report’s release, Gaetz filed a lawsuit against the Ethics Committee, claiming that the information was ‘untruthful and defamatory.’
His legal team argued that, as a former member of Congress, the committee had no jurisdiction over him.
Ritchson is starring in action series Reacher, based on the Jack Reacher book series
Matt Gaetz wife Ginge has stood by his side throughout the controversy stating, ‘Nobody loves America more than you.’
Though Gaetz withdrew from consideration for Attorney General, some speculate that he could yet make a return to politics in some other role through Trump
Despite his efforts, in December the report was finally released, revealing that Gaetz paid over $90,000 for sex, including with a minor, and handed out illicit drug ‘party favors.’
Gaetz has remained defiant throughout, repeatedly asserting his innocence and dismissing the accusations as a politically motivated witch hunt.
His wife, Ginger, has also stood by his side through the controversy stating, ‘Nobody loves America more than you.’
Despite the controversy surrounding Gaetz, his political career may not be over.
Though he withdrew from consideration for Attorney General, some speculate that he could yet make a return to politics in some other role through Trump.
