Kyle Rittenhouse Message Sparks Backlash

Kyle Rittenhouse's social media post—in which he recommended his new book, Acquitted, as a Christmas gift—has been met with a wave of derision online.

Rittenhouse, 20, gained notoriety in August 2020 when, at the age of 17, he shot and killed two men—Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26—at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse, who was using a semi-automatic AR-15-style assault rifle, also injured a 26-year-old named Gaige Grosskreutz.

He said the three shootings were in self-defense. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest where the shootings took place was held in the wake of Jacob Blake, a Black man, being left paralyzed from the waist down after he was shot by a white police officer that same month.

Following his trial, Rittenhouse was acquitted in November 2021 on charges of first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and two charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. Rittenhouse later said he supported the BLM movement, explaining that he was at the demonstration to "protect businesses and provide medical assistance."

Rittenhouse has how documented the circumstances surrounding the shootings in in his recently released tome, which has been described as a "story of survival, resilience, and justice."

"I never wanted to be a public figure. I was homeless as a small child and raised in government-subsidized housing. My goal was to be a cop or a paramedic," a blurb for the book on Amazon reads. "I went to Kenosha to help my community—not become a whipping boy in the national debate. In less than three minutes, the direction of my life was horribly altered when I was forced to defend myself with deadly force. So much was said and written about me that was not true."

"Now, for the first time, I want to tell my story," the blurb went on. "My name is Kyle Rittenhouse. I was attacked. I defended myself. I was prosecuted. I was acquitted."

Amid disappointing sales, Rittenhouse promoted his new book on X, formerly Twitter, as a gift idea ahead of Christmas Day.

"Still looking for Christmas gifts? Well look no further you can order my book ACQUITTED now at Rittenhousebook.com!" Rittenhouse wrote.

On Rittenhouse's website, the book is being offered for $22.99, while signed copies will set customers back $59.99.

Rittenhouse's promotional post sparked a negative reaction from a number of X users, one of whom wrote that they were "boycotting a murder book. [It's] blood money."

"Grifter still peddling this garbage," one detractor commented, while another said: "Toilet paper substitute if anyone needs."

"Yes, I need more paper to start my fireplace," another quipped.

Another said that "$60 for a soft cover to start a fire with is rather expensive."

Scoffing at the idea of presenting the book as a gift, another responded: "Why would I order your book as a Christmas present? I like my family and friends!"

Amid the criticism, other X users expressed their intention to purchase the book.

"The price for a signed copy is surprisingly low," said one supporter. "Might have to get one for myself after Christmas is over."

"The signed copy, is it a printed signature or an actual signature?" another asked. "Because I'd like to get this for my dad."

"Ignore the haters," another told Rittenhouse. "You have far more supporters, they're just not all on social media. But I promise they are out there."

Rittenhouse's book promotion comes weeks after his criminal defense attorney said that he has lost his money since he was acquitted in the Wisconsin shootings.

Talking to Court TV, attorney Mark Richards, who represented Rittenhouse at the trial, said: "He is working, he is trying to support himself. Everybody thinks that Kyle got so much money from this. Whatever money he did get is gone.

"He's living, I don't want to say paycheck to paycheck, but he's living to support himself. Obviously, as his lawyer and somebody who I want to do well, I hope he does re-engage in his studies. But right now he is working full-time, he is living a law-abiding life and he is doing something that he enjoys."

Rittenhouse has been open about needing money in the past and previously used an appearance on Fox News to request donations to his legal fund. He faces lawsuits from the man he shot and injured, as well as from the father of one of the two men he killed. Rittenhouse has denied wrongdoing.

Richards, who is also representing Rittenhouse in his upcoming civil cases, said of his client's book: "He talked to me about it, I read the book before it went to the publisher, I have no problem with him writing the book, he lived it, he paid for it, and it's his story to tell."

"I think he wanted the whole story told. I represented Kyle from almost the beginning until the trial. That was approximately 15 months, and when I read the book, there were a lot of things I didn't know," Richards said.