Wendell Pierce ‘Thankful’ He Lives Abroad After Rittenhouse Verdict

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 14, 2014: Actor Wendell Pierce attends the 'Selma' New York Premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater — Photo by SharpShooter

Wendell Pierce says he feels safer abroad and is “thankful” he no longer lives in the U.S. because of the nation’s “violent crime.”

The Wire and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan star shared his feelings in a series of tweets following the not guilty verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse’s homicide trial.

“I’m home in America for the month of November. I have lived abroad for 4 of the last 5 years. Sadly, what I’ll be thankful for this holiday is leaving the US for a more peaceful life. The violence in America has been normalized. Violent crime, political violence, open carry laws,” the New Orleans native tweeted Sunday night.

He followed that post up with several others, including one in which he lamented the U.S. has “embraced” violence.

“My trip home was a palpable feeling of danger. In all parts of the country, small town, big city. The realization is that we have always been violent but decided to evolve away from it. Now we have embraced it full on,” he wrote.

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One social media user responded by criticizing Pierce for using firearms on screen in his TV work. The actor responded by tweeting, “As an actor, I’m asked not to live life’s answers, but to live life’s questions. Present the conflict for us all to reflect on, decide what our values are and  act on them. Define what your contribution to the paradigm will be.”

On Monday, Pierce continued to tweet about gun violence, writing: “America is on a self destructive path” and “I pray we correct our trajectory.”

The Rittenhouse verdict prompted strong reactions around the nation after he was found not guilty of all charges on Friday, Nov. 19.

The 18-year-old faced life in prison, but his attorneys successfully argued that he opened fire in self defense at a 2020 protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26 were killed and Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, was wounded.