White Boy Rick: Movie vs. Reality - The Shocking True Story

From Street Kid to Activist: The Unbelievable True Story of White Boy Rick!

White Boy Rick: The Movie vs. the Shocking Real Life

White Boy Rick (2018), starring Matthew McConaughey, tells the wild true story of Richard "Ricky" Wershe Jr.—the youngest FBI informant EVER! It’s a crazy tale of gun-running, drug dealing, and a whole heap of trouble, showcasing the immense and unpredictable shifts possible when an entire life is defined by a few specific and rather important decisions, all having consequences that cannot be understated.

The movie takes liberties, obviously, but a surprising amount remains true. We'll explore the real Ricky Wershe Jr.'s incredible and almost unbelievable life, and just how much White Boy Rick the movie gets right—and wrong. This will give you a whole new appreciation for just why those who really wanted a realistic, fact-based film truly needed it. You’ll discover the unbelievable tale that became the foundation for the storyline for White Boy Rick!

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Rick Sr.'s Role: A Father's Betrayal vs. Hollywood's Twist

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White Boy Rick the movie shows Rick Sr. (Matthew McConaughey) as a well-meaning but flawed dad who unintentionally drags his son into his gun-smuggling. That’s not what happened in reality! In truth (per Atavist), the FBI contacted Rick Sr.—NOT his son!—to become an informant. This changed the direction of the storyline; completely negating many assumed plots, adding unexpected dramatic irony; that initial lie completely affects the story.

This was quite shocking. The FBI ignored Rick Jr. at first, considering him insignificant compared to major drug dealers! But the senior Wershe knew those big-time drug lords– which ended up influencing everything. His decision to turn informant, incentivized by cash and saving his family from the dangers of being around people deeply involved in crime, changed everything forever. This makes those other changes for the storyline and other plots surrounding Rick Sr. entirely more ambiguous. A significant plot deviation from what was already presented, and showing that a story's veracity can greatly differ.

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"White Boy Rick": A Name Forged in Headlines

Richard Wershe Sr. (Matthew McConaughey) and Richard Wershe Jr. (Richie Merritt) wearing a gaudy suit in White Boy Rick. Image

That famous nickname, "White Boy Rick"? It wasn't something created in the streets or from the FBI. The Detroit Free Press came up with that term; a name then adopted by fans because it is just exceptionally awesome!

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A Police Scandal Uncovered: Rick's Unexpected Role

Matthew McConaughey as Richard Wershe Sr. and Richie Merritt as Richard Wershe Jr. standing together in White Boy Rick. Image

Get this— Rick Jr. unintentionally uncovered one of Detroit's biggest police corruption scandals EVER (per the New York Times)! After learning about a murdered teen from a drug dispute, Rick Jr. told the FBI, creating a major problem and dilemma! Why? Because the FBI had been working with the crooked police! To arrest these corrupt officers, they'd have to admit that an underage kid worked undercover, forcing them to abandon Rick Jr.; and that abandoned child, left to his own devices after working closely and building significant amounts of trust is a deeply questionable, ethically fraught choice, highlighting the serious implications!

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Threats and Attacks: The Price of Revealing the Truth

Richard Wershe Jr. (Richie Merritt) standing on a street corner in White Boy Rick. Image

Once Rick Jr.'s name hit the news, his life became immensely dangerous and this period resulted in a series of troubling events! That period resulted in a series of attempts on his life. He even recounts being shot during a late-night meeting, after being deserted by his FBI handlers.

A former hitman, Nate Boone Craft, also told Click On Detroit that a Detroit police officer offered him money to eliminate Rick Jr. That aspect is harder to prove, and even questionable considering all those implications – this adds extra weight; demonstrating exactly how significant and precarious Rick Jr.'s position was, making the reality even far more intense than White Boy Rick the movie implies!

From Informant to Dealer to Prison: A Life Defined by Circumstances

Richard Wershe Jr. (Richie Merritt) standing on a street corner with two gang members flanking him in White Boy Rick. Image

Deserted by the FBI and with those many serious and continuous threats from both the street and law enforcement— Rick Jr. turned to DEAling, out of necessity. His rise to the top was insanely fast— all before his 18th birthday! This incredible tale, the rapid growth and change demonstrated shows just how unexpectedly those paths in his life changed course!

That life changed, with arrest followed by a shockingly unfair prison sentence due to a particular, extremely harsh law (Michigan's 650-Lifer Law)! That initial harsh decision led to him facing life in prison (1987)! Yet, law changes, giving hope and eventual freedom after nearly three decades and that harsh life after initial sentencing, ultimately demonstrating just how easily fate can change and the unexpected shifts and turns possible.

Where is White Boy Rick Now? A Fight for Justice

Richard Wershe Jr. (Richie Merritt) wearing a chain in White Boy Rick. Image

Rick Jr. was freed on July 20th, 2020— a fact surprisingly omitted from White Boy Rick (the film was released in 2018)! Now? He's an activist for those unjustly imprisoned due to nonviolent drug crimes (per SlashFilm), running his own cannabis brand "The 8th," referencing the Eighth Amendment (which protects from cruel and unusual punishment); this shows just how he is determined to carry forth a change in response to what transpired. He really became that kind of advocate people should appreciate and fully respect.

White Boy Rick: Fact vs. Fiction

Matthew McConaughey as Rick Sr on a prison phone in White Boy Rick Image

White Boy Rick isn’t entirely historically accurate— certain plot points and some aspects relating to character roles get altered to help enhance drama and those dramatic storytelling moments which created and sustained much of this story's overall fame. While complaints remained about how Rick Jr. gets whitewashed in certain scenes and depictions throughout that entire storyline; critics, along with those deeply involved and informed, made criticisms that helped change those viewpoints and help refine this cinematic portrayal! This demonstrates those elements which truly matter– accuracy must remain supreme.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of a Complex Life Story

White Boy Rick's tale goes far beyond the confines of a film; an incredible true-to-life journey showing what happens when one person decides a few wrong turns in life will bring those immense, irrevocable impacts across all other individuals involved in many of these complex characters’ various lives! That film version altered some elements, emphasizing aspects and minimizing some; and his struggle continues beyond his freedom. It demonstrates that creating such creative narratives must also take care to also respect truth and accurately highlight the issues of injustice when these creative works fail. It makes this cinematic portrayal exceptionally valuable. Even his current efforts toward advocacy, show he’s more than just "White Boy Rick". His continuing activism stands tall; advocating a fairer justice system for many unfairly imprisoned.