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Matthew McConaughey's fans defend his use of SYMBOLIC green Converse but trolls stoke controversy

McConaughey was slammed for suggesting that the green Converse exhibited by his wife belonged to an Uvalde shooting victim but defenders said the shoes were 'symbolic'

Matthew McConaughey’s fans have jumped to his defense after he and his wife were called out for apparently "spreading lies," while speaking at the White House press briefing. The 52-year-old met President Joe Biden last Tuesday on June 7, before delivering a very hard-hitting as well as emotional speech in the wake of the Uvalde school mass shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers.

The actor, who was born in the tragedy-struck Texas city, was accompanied by his wife, Camila Alves, for the event after reportedly spending days with the victims’ families. During his speech, McConaughey mentioned the children, who lost their lives on May 24. One such student was Maite Rodriguez, 9, who was killed by teenage gunman Salvador Ramos.

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Speaking about the child victim of the shooting, the ‘Interstellar’ star said: “Maite wore green high-top Converse with a heart she had hand-drawn on the right toe because they represented her love of nature. Camila has got these shoes. Can you show these shoes, please?” while pointing towards Alves, who was sitting with a pair of green converse shoes.

“Wore these every day. Green Converse with a heart on the right toe. These are the same green Converse on her feet that turned out to be the only clear evidence that could identify her after the shooting. How about that?” McConaughey stated before adding: “Enough with the counterpunching. Enough of the invalidation of the other side. Let's come to the common table that represents the American people. Find a middle ground, the place where most of us Americans live anyway, especially on this issue.”

While many applauded ‘The Gentlemen’ star for his heartfelt address, a few blasted him and his model-wife for apparently suggesting that the shoes belonged to Maite. One such critic was @ZadeSmith6, who shared photos while implying that Maite’s actual shoes were not carried by Alves to the White House. She took her own shoes to show there. The user wrote, “I hate liars …… @McConaughey.”

The same user also shared a clip of McConaughey’s speech by tweeting: “sums it up well…” Another critic said, “And how gross anyway to fake cry and outrage over a pair of... Not-the-child's -shoes? I cannot handle these ppl.” “He lied to the world today. Case closed,” the third one added.

But several of the academy-award winning actor’s admirers went on to give explanation on his behalf with one tweeting, “They are not saying these are the same shoes she was wearing, it was the kind she wore. They are just showing us this out of respect for the family. My god, this is not something to make crap over.” The second fan wrote: “Of course. He said they were green Converse with a heart, not her exact shoes, which are probably evidence. Those trying to create a controversy over the shoes are guilty of pushing a cruel, shameful, deliberate distraction. Good people shouldn't fall for it. It was THAT GUN.”

A tweet supporting McConaughey read: “I’m quite sure the real shoes are in an evidence locker. I assumed they were symbolic. I think Matthew’s motives were pure. I don’t think yours are.” And, when a troll tried to question the ‘True Detective’ actor by saying: “Again. Matthew the actor said the shoes shes holding were the girls shoes she had on when she was shot. PAY ATTENTION,” a fan of him fired back: “Oh and btw he DID NOT say those were the exact specific shoes he was talking about the shoes she wore everyday, you can see those shoes are brand new! WOW, PAY ATTENTION OR DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE DRAWN OUT FOR YOU? 🤔🤦‍♀️”