DETROIT (WWJ) — Richard Wershe, Jr. — famously known as "White Boy Rick" — admitted to WWJ's Charlie Langton that he's never seen the 2018 movie starring Matthew McConaughey made about his life.
"I've never watched the movie, guys," he said to WWJ's Charlie Langton while at MusicTown Detroit on Tuesday. "Never."
The movie, titled after the moniker given to Wershe, is loosely based on Wershe's life and relationship with his father, Richard Wershe Sr., who McConaughey plays in "White Boy Rick."
Wershe is played by Richie Merritt who went on to start in HBO's "Euphoria."
In the late 1980s, Wershe became the youngest known informant in the history of the FBI at 14 years old. Wershe was convicted of a non-violent drug offense at just 17 years old and spent more than three decades behind bars.
Actor Matthew McConaughey visited Wershe while in prison during the film's production; he called McConaughey "a nice guy," but Wershe said did not watch the movie and did not accept any money from the studio.
Wershe said he worked the closest with good friend and writer, Scott Silver, who was attached to the film at the time.
"Me and Scott probably worked 300 hours together and that's how we became friends," Wershe said. "And Scott was removed or quit the project and it kind of took and left turn and that's when I left."
Scott has written award-winning films such as "8 Mile", "The Fighter" and "Joker."
When Charlie Langton asked Wershe if McConaughey might be upset if he heard Wershe hadn't seen the movie, Weshe shrugged and said "I highly doubt it, he got paid."
Wershe said the media and popular culture, such as the movie "White Boy Rick," spent many years inaccurately portraying him as a "drug kingpin."
"I was never a drug kingpin," he said. "I sold drugs. I sold a lot of drugs as a kid. So am I proud of that? Absolutely not."
"Listen, Pablo Escobar is a drug kingpin. El Chapo is a drug kingpin. Kids from the inner city of Detroit, Big Meech is not a kingpin," Wershe said, referencing Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory, a founding member of the Black Mafia Family, which rose to infamy in the late 1980s to the early 2000s in southwest Detroit.
Flenory is currently serving a 30 year sentence for running a cross nation cocaine-trafficking ring.
Flenory is the center of a Stars drama series, "BMF." The TV show also features an actor portrayal of Wershe, played by none other than Eminem.
The series is executive produced and directed by 50 Cent, who Wershe said reached out to him about the role.
Wershe said Eminem never consulted him about the cameo, but Wershe is still a big fan of his music.
Wershe talked for about 45 minutes Tuesday on a variety of topics from his thoughts on the justice and prison systems in the United States, what he thinks about the city of Detroit decades after his incarceration, and more.
He also opened up on what led to his conviction at such a young age.
