RedState's Kira Davis wonders if it's distasteful to be making a celebrity out of Kyle Rittenhouse

After the not guilty verdict came down in the Kyle Rittenhouse case, this editor suggested that Rittenhouse keep a low profile for a while. Rittenhouse has done pretty much the opposite, meeting with Donald Trump, appearing on several podcasts, and getting “a rock star reception” at Turning Point USA’s conference this weekend. On Tuesday, Rep. Lauren Boebert posted a photo with Rittenhouse:

Should we submit this picture for Wikipedia's 2nd Amendment page? pic.twitter.com/vXeT1nuSxD

— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) December 21, 2021

Kira Davis, editor-at-large for Twitchy sister-site RedState, wonders if it’s a bit distasteful to be making a celebrity out of Rittenhouse:

This kid got a raw deal and has been through hell, but he still killed two people. It is so distasteful to be making a celebrity out of him. I find the giddiness with which ppl approach KR to be disturbing. Taking a life is a heavy burden, regardless of the circumstances. https://t.co/CckftH7E5a

— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) December 21, 2021

This editor tends to agree with Davis, but opinion is definitely split.

Rittenhouse, for the Right, stands for the rule of law and that the PR campaign by the left to undermine 2A didn’t work. The American justice system still works because average Americans sitting as jurors won’t succumb to political pressure. I’ll celebrate the hell out of that.

— Jenna Ellis 🇺🇸 (@JennaEllisEsq) December 21, 2021

I would argue Kira, that we celebrate him because he is still alive solely because he had the means w which to defend himself. That is indeed worth celebrating.

— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) December 21, 2021

I celebrate that too. I'm just questioning the propriety of the celebrity factor rising up around him. It makes me feel uneasy for him, and frankly I think ppl are taking to lightly the burden he is carrying.

— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) December 21, 2021

I agree. He should be dealing with the emotional and mental burden of the ordeal. Not doing a promo tour. This will be an issue later in life. Deal with it now while you have the opportunity.

— R⊕ß Dεη†⊕η – Iηgεηï⊕uš Kηïgh† ⊕ƒ ﾚα Mαηςhα⚔️ (@RobbieVanGogh) December 22, 2021

When the attention evaporates he’ll be in psychological trouble

— Kelly McCarthy (@mcKmarth) December 21, 2021

https://twitter.com/captoftheyear/status/1473386750366011400

I’m fine with it. Not sure what the problem is.

— Colin Yamamma (@CYamamma) December 21, 2021

I submit the adulation is due exactly to the raw deal he had to undergo. An attempt at some sort of compensation, I suppose. I have no problem with it.

— Marcus Sickby MD (@Ronin1809) December 21, 2021

Sure – on the other hand, there's no chance he would be allowed to slip back into obscurity and live a normal life, so embracing it and trying to ensure he can live comfortably is understandable.

— Donald Gooch (@GOOCH1701) December 21, 2021

I agree, Kira. I thought he just wanted to get on with life. Looks like he's loving the fame.

— V UltraMAGA (@GilKernen) December 21, 2021

I understand completely.

However, I think that he’s now seen as a hero not so much for deadly self-defence – but because he triumphed over left-wing media trying to get him convicted.

— That Other Boi (@ThatOtherBoi) December 21, 2021

I’d have agreed 5-6 years ago. Game changed. Kids a beacon. If he’s up for it, triple down.

— CB (@crb0712) December 22, 2021

I'm worried about what it might be doing to KR long term. He's still young and I'm not sure he has people with his best interest around him. Not so concerned about the tastefulness as I am concerned for him.

— Dr. Bob (@ByronEBooth) December 21, 2021

I get that.

The glee isn’t really about his murder acquittal, it’s actually about vindication from the media outlets that tried to paint him as the avatar for white supremacy.

— mikel (@mf_soul) December 21, 2021

Taking a life is a heavy burden. But the kid was in a place that needed help, provided help, and was senselessly attacked and defended himself. He was then dragged through the mud by the media. He won’t have a normal life so he might as well embrace what he’s got now: a platform.

— ToastyJ (@toastyJ) December 21, 2021

https://twitter.com/Jenonofre/status/1473382460440285186

His life was essentially destroyed by the media, so he should profit off of the “celebrity” the media turned him into.

— Ol' Sarge (@_aTm2004) December 21, 2021

Considering how the state tried to ruin his life, and nearly succeeded, I'd say that he us owed some celebrity.

People are were already trying to get him removed from the university he wanted to attend before he had even enrolled, he could use all the help he can get.

— Cthulhu (@SpaceDadCthulhu) December 22, 2021

True; the socialists at ASU protested him taking online classes there when he wasn’t even enrolled, on the basis that he was a “racist murderer” “whose ancestors killed black and brown people.” Fortunately, the Left doesn’t seem too interested in keeping him in the spotlight — at least there weren’t riots over the verdict.

Was hoping he would fade away and try to as best a life as he could (financed by lawsuits of course). This was his original plan. That being said – it’s hard to be 18 and turn down this attention and that is what these cultures are preying on.

— Ed Gallagher (@ejgallagher1) December 21, 2021

The kid had students protesting at the college he was trying to attend. Normal is out of the question for him, might as well hang out with the people who lionize him rather than vilify him.

— Benjamin (@KSC3971) December 21, 2021

I'm glad he was acquitted but I agree 100 percent with this tweet. Why is he now celebrated? I'm sure he's a good kid but…..

— LilShooter (@LilShooter13) December 21, 2021

Same, he’s not a hero, he just defended himself. I mean putting him on a stage with lights and cheerleading seems weird.

— ⚡️Erick Brockway⚡️ (@erickbrockway) December 21, 2021

https://twitter.com/Samizda87790136/status/1473494522583781378

While I understand your perspective, the kid doesn’t really have a choice. Half the country still calls him a murderous white supremacist.

At this point, he can’t just live his live so he needs a team to support him. It may not be right, but it’s his reality.

— ConLaw (@conservative34) December 21, 2021

He killed a pedo and a a wife beater in self-defense and then got railroaded by the alleged justice system. Maybe he should take a rest, but I'm fine with him celebrating his well deserved not guilty verdict.

— Jacob Airey (@realJacobAirey) December 21, 2021

I agree. I’d be getting out of the limelight, hiring some good attorneys and working quietly on suing the daylights out of the media.

— Mark207 (@mvee207) December 21, 2021

Yes. He should be laying low, reflecting, and figuring out how much to sue MSNBC and CNN for.

— Brian Gutherman (@Beachnuke) December 22, 2021

I think he should lay low and count his lucky stars

— foo fee (@foufeelafou) December 22, 2021

Also…it's not good for him to be used in this way. Makes me think of the way both the right and left used their chosen kids after the Parkland shooting. Both of those kids were, IMO, damaged by having adults use them for political purposes.

— Deena Heg @[email protected]; On Post as bikesalsa (@bikesalsa) December 21, 2021

I realize he probably has some big legal bills. But this victory tour is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. He was just a kid who’s life was threatened and he defended himself, which he had every right to do.

— ronald duzan (@ronaldduzan) December 21, 2021

We suppose Rittenhouse is old enough to know what he’s doing, and if he’s choosing to make all of these celebrity appearances, that’s his right. What do you think?

Related:

Lib blue-checks melt down over Kyle Rittenhouse appearance at TPUSA conference in Phoenix https://t.co/ThKhEd9P13

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 21, 2021