Matthew McConaughey receives blowback after White House gun-reform speech

Actor Matthew McConaughey's passionate gun-reform plea Wednesday at the White House is facing sharp criticism from a GOP House member and social media critics.

Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert suggests McConaughey's argument is undermined by him being a Hollywood performer and that he's a last-resort pitchman for President Biden's effort to tighten gun control laws. 

"The White House is so devoid of credible surrogates they've had to drag Matthew McConaughey off the set of yet another Magic Mike sequel to drone on about gun control. Not alright, not alright, not alright!," tweeted Boebert, a strong Second Amendment supporter, referring to the actor's line in the movie "Dazed and Confused." 

Backlash on Twitter focused on McConaughey having played multiple characters who used guns in a total of 12 movies.

"You know what's hilarious? When an actor tries to lecture me on gun control and gun violence, when he has made millions from his movies displaying gun violence," one Twitter user posted, according to Newsweek. "#MatthewMcConaughey if you really cared, donate every dime you've ever made to victims of gun violence and gun safety." 

However, McConaughey, born in Uvalde, Texas, where last month 19 children and two teachers died in a mass school shooting, also received a similar amount of support for his speech. 

At the White House, McConaughey's wife, Camila Alves McConaughey, held up a pair of green Converse sneakers worn by a 10-year-old girl killed in the attack, a stark image that resonated with many of his supporters.

"If you weren't moved by this, you're not human," tweeted Twitter user JMac.

McConaughey and his wife visited Unvalde to hear the stories of the shooting victims before he gave the speech.

The just keep livin Foundation, founded by the McConaugheys, has a set up a relief fund to help the families of the victims.

"We heard from so many people alright," McConaughey said. "Families of the deceased. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, Texas Rangers, hunters, border patrol and responsible gun owners who won't give up their Second Amendment right to bear arms.

"And do you know what they all say? 'We want secure and safe schools, and we want gun laws, which won't make it so easy for the bad guys to get these damn guns.' "