Alan Ritchson, before taking up the heavy responsibility of being TV’s beloved Jack Reacher, appeared in an American Idol Audition almost two decades ago. The recently resurfaced video sees a young Ritchson charming then-host Paula Abdul. This video has left fans in disbelief as it garnered many reactions across social media platforms like X.

Reacher fans react to Alan Ritchson’s old American Idol audition

A resurfaced clip of Alan Ritchson appearing for an audition for American Idol has gone viral over the past few days, drawing the attention of the internet. In the decades-old clip, a young Ritchson can be seen entering the iconic audition room in front of three judges, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson.

It seemed like Paula Abdul was charmed by Ritchson’s looks, as pointed out by Simon Cowell. After Ritchson serenaded Abdul with Stevie Wonder’s You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Abdul admitted in a backstage segment that Ritchson was “totally hot.”

The clip, now going viral on X, drew many reactions from fans.

“Today I learned Alan Ritchson was on American Idol and managed to charm Paula Abdul in his audition,” one user posted with the video of the young Ritchson auditioning.

“Alan Ritchson on American Idol, charming Paula Abdul?? That’s legendary,” one user wrote in response, while another wrote, “From Idol crooner to Reacher crusher, what a glow-up.” Yet another user wrote, “Oh really that’s crazy.” Another user added, “Charms Paula Abdul AND becomes an action hero? That’s a win-win career arc,” while another user noted, “This man is a Chameleon.”

Paula Abdul has not commented on the resurfaced video. Ritchson previously spoke about the video in a 2023 interview with Jimmy Kimmel. Ritchson claimed that the way the clip was edited, it made him look bad. But he still looks at the experience fondly (via Parade).

During his appearance, Ritchson was eliminated during the Hollywood group round.