Chris Pratt may be a superstar at the box office, but online, he’s turned into something of a joke. Memes and commentary frequently portray the Marvel actor as homophobic because of his alleged affiliation with Hillsong Church, a Christian megachurch that considers homosexuality to be “sinful.”
In a recent interview with Men’s Health, Chris Pratt tries to dispel his negative reputation by denying ever attending Hillsong and even describing himself as “not a religious guy.”
“Maybe it was hubris. For me to stand up on the stage and say the things that I said, I’m not sure I touched anybody,” Chris Patt says, referring to the moment at the MTV Movie & TV Awards, where he was awarded the life-time achievement Generation Award.
While receiving the award, Chris Patt reportedly said “God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Don’t be a turd.”
The God statement, a picture of him on Instagram dragging a cross, his association with the Zoe church—an anti-LGBTQ church—that plays host to celebrities like Bieber, Gomez etc, has made him the object of backlash in recent times. Especially in the face of the Wade vs. Roe Supreme Court ruling against abortion.
“Religion has been oppressive as fuck for a long time,” Chris Pratt continues. “I didn’t know that I would kind of become the face of religion when really I’m not a religious person.”
“I think there’s a distinction between being religious—adhering to the customs created by man, oftentimes appropriating the awe reserved for who I believe is a very real God—and using it to control people, to take money from people, to abuse children, to steal land, to justify hatred.”
Chris Pratt continued, “whatever it is. The evil that’s in the heart of every single man has glommed on to the back of religion and come along for the ride.”