Kyle Rittenhouse
(Picture: Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Even before a jury found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty of murder, right-wingers have consistently hailed him as a hero.
Although he was cleared it's still odd—no, disturbing—to see anyone gain fame for killing two people.
And yet, Rittenhouse is still getting praised.
On Monday, during the Turning Point USA conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Rittenhouse was given a bizarre rockstar-style reception.
As the panel announced his arrival, Rittenhouse’s name was cheered by the audience alongside loud rock music and pyrotechnics.
Fox LA Anchor Elex Michaelson wrote on Twitter: “Kyle Rittenhouse gets a rock star reception at the Turning Point USA event in AZ. The teen was found not guilty of criminal charges after admitting to shooting & killing two people in WI. He says it was self defense.”
“He’s now seen as a hero by some activists on the right,” the tweet added.
Kyle Rittenhouse gets a rock star reception at the Turning Point USA event in AZ.
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) December 21, 2021
The teen was found not guilty of criminal charges after admitting to shooting & killing two people in WI. He says it was self defense.
He’a now seen as a hero by some activists on the right pic.twitter.com/fBvl2pKT6q
Another tweet showed a different angle from the event.
“Kyle Rittenhouse takes the stage at TPUSA’s AmericaFest to thousands of cheering fans chanting his name. He even gets his own Kyle Rittenhouse-themed song to come out to,” wrote one user, seemingly in attendance.
Kyle Rittenhouse takes the stage at TPUSA’s AmericaFest to thousands of cheering fans chanting his name. He even gets his own Kyle Rittenhouse-themed song to come out to. pic.twitter.com/PD7nkjpQ81
— AZ Right Wing Watch (@az_rww) December 21, 2021
In a follow-up tweet, they further described the scene, “The crowd for Rittenhouse was surreal. People near me came to AmFest just to see him, a teen by me couldn’t stop saying “based” once he was on stage. They asked if any of the women in the crowd wanted to go on a date with him & there were loud cheers. Someone had a ‘kiss me’ sign.”
As we know, Rittenhouse fatally shot two people and wounded a third last year during a protest last summer in Kenosha, Wisconsin after the death of Jacob Blake at the hands of police brutality.
The 18-year-old was charged with counts of intentional, reckless, and attempted homicide and reckless endangerment as well as a misdemeanor charge of possessing a firearm as a minor and a curfew violation charge, both of which were dismissed.
After videos of Rittenhouse being announced at the conference began to circulate online, people reacted as outraged as could only be expected.
“Both despicable and ominous,” wrote Chris Hayes.
Both despicable and ominous. https://t.co/6hIFcNtWtC
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) December 21, 2021
“Losing your sh** over Kyle Rittenhouse like he’s a surprise Grammys performer is the logical endpoint of brain-dead reactionary politics. Nothing owns the libs quite like celebrating a random white kid who killed people in the street and got away with it,” wrote Jay Willis.
Losing your shit over Kyle Rittenhouse like he’s a surprise Grammys performer is the logical endpoint of brain-dead reactionary politics. Nothing owns the libs quite like celebrating a random white kid who killed people in the street and got away with it. pic.twitter.com/Srp0VxBVj7
— Jay Willis (@jaywillis) December 21, 2021
Another tweet read, “This is so dark. Kyle Rittenhouse is being feted as an American hero. This is Turning Point USA. Their $$$ all over UK politics too. Grimes & Harwood hired for launch of TP UK. Mogg & Baker met with leaders. America is in so much trouble but so are we.”
This is so dark. Kyle Rittenhouse being feted as an American hero.
— Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) December 21, 2021
This is Turning Point USA. Their $$$ all over UK politics too. Grimes & Harwood hired for launch of TP UK. Mogg & Baker met with leaders. America is in so much trouble but so are we.pic.twitter.com/a7nApmdX0k
