Rittenhouse, 19, killed two men and injured a third during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2019. He was acquitted of multiple charges including first-degree homicide at trial in 2021, a verdict that was both, slammed as an injustice for those who died, and hailed as a “moment of sanity.”
Since his trial, Rittenhouse has become a poster child of right-wing media, further deepening the animosity felt by his detractors.
Such prominent and divisive figures, however, are particularly vulnerable to targeted misinformation campaigns, which can trick social media users no matter how fanciful or hollow the underlying claims may be.
The Claim
A tweet, archived here, was posted on October 21, 2022, and claims that Kyle Rittenhouse’s real name is “Wendy Rittenhouse Lewis” and that “she is not 18 but 26 y.o. female to male transgender.”
“(Kyle) aka Wendy is a police officer, In real life. The whole courtroom was a stage.” it adds.
The tweet includes photos of Kyle in police and fire service uniform with the caption “‘HE’S’ A SHE”.
The Facts
Stories about gender identity of controversial public figures are an increasingly widespread trope in the misinformation space, both on social and mainstream media.
Earlier this year, female NBA star Britney Griner was said to have taken a “DNA gender test” while in Russian jail, despite no evidence to support that claim.
The claim about Rittenhouse is likewise false, and its provenance is even more puzzling. Rittenhouse has not been a particularly prominent public figure for some time, and this claim appears to be based on two unrelated and recently resurfaced photos.
The pictures in the tweet were circulated around his trial on websites like the New York Post and The Sun, among other outlets.
As reported at the time, the photo shows a younger-aged Rittenhouse, who was a one-time member of a local police and fire cadet programme.
Both photos are thought to have been found on Facebook.
The claim that Rittenhouse is 26-years-old is also patently false as court documents and reports at the time of his trial show. Court filings also show that he identified as male.
Although Rittenhouse has not commented directly on his gender identity, the rumor is entirely unfounded, as the misleadingly used photo appears to be the only source behind the spurious claims.
The same images of Rittenhouse has been used to spread other misinformation too, including that he was EMT trained.
Although the origin of the name “Wendy” in the post is unclear, it is likely a reference to Rittenhouse’s mother, who is named Wendy.
Newsweek has reached out to Kyle Rittenhouse for comment.
The Ruling
False.
There is no evidence that Kyle Rittenhouse is transgender. The photos in the tweet, sourced from Facebook, were used out-of-context.
Rittenhouse is known to have served briefly as a police and firefighting cadet. Court filings show his real age and gender identity as well.
Although Rittenhouse, whose mother is called Wendy, has not commented, there is no substance to claims that he is used to be a woman.
FACT CHECK BY NEWSWEEK
