Kyle Rittenhouse, acquitted for fatally shooting two men and injuring another during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020, announced his participation in an upcoming clay shooting tournament in Texas. However, his social media post sparked backlash as many warned about the event's controversial implications. 

Kyle Rittenhouse Found Not Guilty In Kenosha Protest Shootings
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 19: Kyle Rittenhouse enters the courtroom to hear the verdicts in his trial prior to being found not guilty on all counts at the Kenosha County Courthouse on November 19, 2021 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse was found not guilty of all charges in the shooting of three demonstrators, killing two of them, during a night of unrest that erupted in Kenosha after a police officer shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back while being arrested in August 2020. Rittenhouse, from Antioch, Illinois, claimed self-defense who at the time of the shooting was armed with an assault rifle.
(Photo : (Photo by Sean Krajacic - Pool/Getty Images))

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"Get your tickets today!" exclaimed the 21-year-old, alongside a promotional image for the inaugural TXGR Clay Shoot scheduled for September 12 in Fort Worth. Despite the enthusiasm, social media erupted with criticism, reminding the public of Rittenhouse's contentious history. 

CoachMike enthusiastically commented, "It's gonna be KILLER!" on Rittenhouse's post. Another user, Hawt Mike, sarcastically quipped, "Lemme guess ... Clay made you feel 'threatened'?'" Meanwhile, a different commenter bluntly stated, "Hell no!! I know how you are with guns and crowds. I'll stay far away, you little freak." 

 

 

Critics labeled Rittenhouse as a "murderer," "grifter," and "fraud," often sharing images of his emotional courtroom reaction to his 2021 acquittal at 18. 

 

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/kyle-rittenhouse-the-then-17-year-old-who-in-2020-shot-and-news-photo/1542346808?adppopup=true
Gun Rights Activists Gather For 2nd Amendment Rally In Michigan IONIA, MICHIGAN - JULY 19: Kyle Rittenhouse (right), the then-17-year-old who, in 2020, shot and killed two protestors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, claimed self-defense, and was found not guilty, speaks to supporters of the 2nd Amendment at a "Defend Our 2A: Michigan's Fight for Self Preservation" rally at a farm on July 19, 2023 in Ionia, Michigan. The rally was moved this year from the Michigan State Capitol where it was previously held. Other speakers at the rally are former Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack, and Mark and Patricia McCloskey.
(Photo : (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images))

Many comments were highly offensive, filled with profanity and insults too harsh to repeat. 

Accusations also emerged against Rittenhouse, suggesting he abandoned his family amid fallout from his trial. False claims circulated about his mother's financial woes after she was wrongly accused of aiding his travel with a loaded weapon across state lines. In reality, the gun was legally stored in Kenosha by an acquaintance of Rittenhouse. 

The unrest in Kenosha erupted following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, and was exacerbated by George Floyd's murder months earlier by a Minneapolis police officer. 

 

Gun Rights Activists Gather For 2nd Amendment Rally In Michigan
IONIA, MICHIGAN - JULY 19: Kyle Rittenhouse, the then-17-year-old who, in 2020, shot and killed two protestors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, claimed self-defense, and was found not guilty, waves to the cameras before speaking to supporters of the 2nd Amendment at a "Defend Our 2A: Michigan's Fight for Self Preservation" rally at a farm on July 19, 2023 in Ionia, Michigan. The rally was moved this year from the Michigan State Capitol where it was previously held. Other speakers at the rally are former Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack, and Mark and Patricia McCloskey.
(Photo : (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images))

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At the time, Rittenhouse, then 17, stated he traveled to Kenosha armed with a semi-automatic rifle to protect property from rioters. 

Now, three years after his legal victory, Rittenhouse is attempting to reshape his public image while maintaining ties to the gun rights movement, earning accolades from conservative circles. 

Tags: Kyle Rittenhouse George Floyd jacob blake