In a February 2025 GQ profile, actor Alan Ritchson called former classmate Matt Gaetz “that motherfucker” and said, “We are adversaries.” Gaetz disputed that description two days later, saying they were not adversaries and suggesting Ritchson was seeking Hollywood attention. The exchange was part of a profile timed to the release of Reacher season three.
What did Alan Ritchson say about Matt Gaetz?
In Matthew Roberson’s GQ profile, published February 19, 2025, Ritchson reacted to Gaetz’s name by saying, “That motherfucker. We are adversaries.” The profile identifies the two as classmates after Ritchson’s family settled in Niceville, Florida.
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Ritchson went on to criticize the Florida Panhandle’s continued support for Gaetz, saying, “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!” Those are Ritchson’s opinions as reported in the interview, not independently established findings about Gaetz.
How did Matt Gaetz respond?
In a response reported by TheWrap on February 21, Gaetz rejected Ritchson’s characterization. “We were not ‘adversaries’ as I won debate championships and Alan did more acting stuff… He was always very nice to me (and everyone) and his mother, the computer lab monitor, loved me,” he said. Gaetz also suggested Ritchson was seeking Hollywood attention.
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The accounts differ: Ritchson described them as adversaries, while Gaetz recalled Ritchson as friendly. The reporting establishes what each said, but does not independently determine whether they were friends, rivals, or simply classmates as teenagers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why did the comments surface in 2025?
GQ published the profile ahead of the February 20, 2025 premiere of Reacher season three. The show’s release provided the interview’s timing; the comments about Gaetz were part of the broader profile, not a standalone campaign speech or a separate interview focused only on him.
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- Rating: NR
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- Movie Title: Reacher: Season Two
Ritchson also said there was part of him that wanted to enter politics “to outdo somebody like him for good,” while adding that he was “not duplicitous enough to succeed in politics.”
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- Storage Capacity: 25 GB
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