Social media explodes over Avenatti arrest

Social media exploded after news broke of Michael Avenatti’s arrest on Wednesday afternoon, with former ally Alyssa Milano announcing she is “disavowing” him and conservatives including media figures and the president’s son Donald Trump Jr. going after the attorney over alleged domestic violence charges. 

According to multiple reports, Avenatti, 47, was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence on Wednesday. He was in Los Angeles Police Department custody as of Wednesday evening.

{mosads}“A report for domestic violence was taken yesterday and an individual has been arrested for that report today and he is in the process of being booked,” a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told The Hill, although the spokesperson would not confirm the man was Avenatti.

Avenatti is a fixture on cable news, particularly on CNN and MSNBC, where he has appeared hundreds of times since exploding onto the scene in March due to his representation of Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Daniels is suing President Trump and alleges the two had an affair. 

Avenatti has also become notable for his possible aspirations to become a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. He has become a public figure associated with progressive causes, and staged protests outside the White House alongside people like Milano, who is also a leading voice in the “Me Too” movement against sexual assault.

The news of his arrest quickly catapulted Avenatti into the top-trending topic on social media, spawning plenty of reactions, including from the president’s eldest son, Trump Jr., who has sparred on social media with the attorney in the recent past.

Boy, who could have figured that the short-tempered, angry guy who kept boasting about how tough he was and using metaphors about punching people would have a violent streak.

— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) November 14, 2018

Totally disgusting. And before anyone asks me, yes, I’m disavowing Avenatti. I do not care what side he’s on. #Basta https://t.co/sHK1PggVsj

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) November 14, 2018

Avenatti was bad news from day 1.

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 14, 2018

Presidential timber, this guy. https://t.co/yNgp1tkvCO via @TMZ

— Brit Hume (@brithume) November 14, 2018

I wonder if @CNN will denounce the actions of beloved guest @MichaelAvenatti: https://t.co/FcZD875cVz

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 14, 2018

One month ago, Avenatti:

“These old white men still don’t understand that assault victims and women deserve respect and to be heard.” https://t.co/XocjD6ontk

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 14, 2018

Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Avenatti Arrested for Felony Domestic Violence https://t.co/EU5TJlcBJn via @TMZ

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 14, 2018

Michael Avenatti kicked off his 2020 presidential campaign today by getting arrested on domestic violence charges for allegedly assaulting his ex-wife. Bye bye dirt bag.

— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) November 14, 2018

Idea:
-Let’s give him the due process that everyone in this situation deserves; then
-Let’s never talk about him again; and
-Let’s stop talking about bad people in general and making them famous https://t.co/piLZ010IAM

— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 14, 2018

The people who irresponsibly promoted this guy need to take a hard look at themselves in the mirror tonight. https://t.co/DxFFiPDFAt

— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) November 14, 2018

BREAKING: Michael Avenatti Reportedly Arrested for Suspected Domestic Violence https://t.co/QQZZA1inlE

“Michael showed up 5 minutes later, ran into the building, chasing after her. He screamed repeatedly, ‘She hit me first.’”

That’s the script of over half of “Cops” episodes.

— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) November 14, 2018

Breaking: Creepy porn lawyer Michael Avennatti arrested for domestic violence. This could slow down that 2020 presidential campaign: https://t.co/UqpMC3zcQg

— MARK SIMONE (@MarkSimoneNY) November 14, 2018

Avenatti did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.