n
Between his voice acting in last month’s blockbuster The Super Mario Bros. Movie and his starring role in this weekend’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the upcoming second season of The Terminal List, Chris Pratt is still very much in the spotlight. And that means movie and TV fans are still wrestling with his religious views—or what we know about his religious views, anyway.
For years, Pratt was linked to the controversial Hillsong Church, which has openly stated that it “do[es] not affirm a gay lifestyle” and “do[es] not knowingly have actively gay people in positions of leadership, either paid or unpaid.” The Daily Beast reports Hillsong also has a history of gay conversion therapy.
Elliot Page called out Pratt’s religious practices in 2019, tweeting that the actor goes to a church that’s “infamously anti-LGBTQ.” Pratt responded on Instagram, saying “nothing could be further from the truth.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: Chris Pratt seemingly taunts “woke” critics of his crappy TV show and the responses are brutal
Then, in a Men’s Health profile last year, Pratt denied attending the church. “I never went to Hillsong,” he said. “I’ve never actually been to Hillsong. I don’t know anyone from that church.”
Despite those denials, Pratt visited Hillsong in 2017, as multiple media outlets reported at the time.
In that same Men’s Health profile, Pratt insisted that he’s not actually religious.
“Religion has been oppressive as f*ck for a long time,” he said. “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. 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.”
Pratt has admitted to attending controversial Zoe Church in Los Angeles, though not exclusively. Men’s Health notes that Zoe was founded by pastor Chad Veach and that Veach executive-produced a 2017 film that equated “sexual brokenness” with same-sex attraction. The Cut, meanwhile, reports Veach used to preach at Hillsong and was inspired by Hillsong when he founded Zoe.
So, is Pratt really the “worst Chris” in Hollywood, as Twitter users contended in 2020? Depends on whom you ask. As you’ll see below, the Jurassic World star still has his share of defenders—including some who are seemingly unaware of Zoe’s history—and a ton of critics, too.
Here’s a sampling of the recent back-and-forth on Twitter.
the weird thing about chris pratt saying he's never been to hillsong is that he was literally seen at a hillsong service in 2017—and it was reported on by multiple publications, including ET pic.twitter.com/8ZbpexKTSI
— molly freeman (@mollyrockit) June 28, 2022
So to clarify: Pratt attended a church that was modeled after “Hillsong” but his church never supported conversion therapy like Hillsong does. But Elliott Paige just accused him randomly for being apart of Hillsong, which started the whole “Chris Pratt is a homophobe” tabloid.
— ?Daper Bear? (@Daper_Bear) April 26, 2022
I don't care enough to search this but has Chris Pratt actually done something wrong or do people just hate him because he's overly religious?
— jason darko (@striderno9) December 3, 2020
i never said he went to hillsong
i said he went to a hate church
notice how every person trying to defend “chris pratt goes to a hate church” ALWAYS say “oh he doesnt go to hillsong”
he doesnt
zoe church, his church, however
is run by a hillsong minister— jacob (@JacobHiss) April 5, 2023
Chris Pratt follows right wing people said he’s not particularly religious and yet choose to go to Zoe church. Which was founded by someone associated with Hillsong, Carl Lentz and produced a movie that links sexual brokenness to same-sex marriage. pic.twitter.com/daqP2GiXmh
— 🏳️⚧️Tanya🏳️🌈 (@JustAnAnimeGirl) April 15, 2023
bruh people can not actually be that stupid. even if he attends “Zoe Church” or whatever. it literally states that it’s modelled after hillsong and it’s hillsong-adjacent. they can say they welcome everyone how much they want. chris pratt is part of a homophobic church. https://t.co/XS243rJu08 pic.twitter.com/8IJPfIusGd
— ? (@BarbraThinks) April 14, 2023
Why do people hate Chris pratt like omg he’s religious whoopty fucking doo. Man said he loves all people and doesn’t discriminate but because one person said his church hates gay people, everyone makes fun of him. like chill guys.
— Dom (@SentientSucks) November 25, 2021
listen folks I know you all like saying chris pratt isn't homophobic because he doesn't go to hillsong but, this may surprise you, there's more than one homophobic church, and he goes to zoe church, whose pastor has made homophobic propaganda & is friends with the hillsong pastor
— Joy ????? (Zeld Media Blackout Mode) ? (@JoyContent_) February 15, 2023
"Chris Pratt just gets hate for being a religious conservative."
Well you're almost right. Chris Pratt gets hate because he's monetarily supports a homophobic church.
As for the bland actor argument, I disagree. I don't like him at all as a person, but I do enjoy his acting.
— Skele ? (@FunnySkele) February 9, 2022
I’m gay and non religious and I know Chris Pratt isn’t what the performative caring of the internet claims he is. A little research and you’d know he’s actually DEFENDED LGBTQ rights…
— Mike’s AI Lunacy (@MadManM64211065) November 24, 2022
Chris Pratt hasn’t shown anything as to wether he’s wrongfully using the Lord’s word to justify any LGBTQ+ or any bigoted hate, and it really just seems he’s the average Joe who goes to church every Sunday with his family.
There really isn’t any valid reason to hate the man.
— Jacob 🎬 (@omgitsjacobTV) April 7, 2023
If Chris Pratt went to an LGBTQ+ affirming church he and the church's leadership wouldn't hesitate to make that clear. Clarity is kindness. Instead they stay silent and vague. It's textbook polite Christian cruelty.
— Semler (@gracebaldridge) April 28, 2022
WHY DO PEOPLE HATE CHRIS PRATT HES A NORMAL TALENTED MARRIED STRAIGHT NON ANTI-LGBTQ+ CHRISTIAN WHO GOT TO PLAY LITERAL FUCKING SUPER MARIO AND EMMET HE AINT DO NUFFIN https://t.co/qp1GJ1g29H
— Ballon149_ (@ballon149) April 6, 2023
Here come the Chris Pratt apologists. It's the end of Pride month, so I guess it's fine to ignore that his church (Zoe Church) was founded by Chad Veach, who equated LGBTQ with "sexual brokenness." If this is the hill you're dying on, you are not an ally. He certainly isn't. https://t.co/hTtKPCeqAl
— Jeff Nelson (@SirJeffNelson) June 28, 2022
Winsocki
Let me be clear….Chris Pratt has freedom of religion even if it is homophobic or anti-vegan …whatever. Believe what you want as long as not intefere with equal freedom of others like me. Hate who you want , it is a free country …. I hate MAGA and Trump. You cannot be gay and not allow hate if we hate our opponents. As long as you do not legislate and in real life discriminate, I don’t care how you feel. Hate a gay couple’s wedding but you have to bake the cake if they ask ( personally I would not want to give them the money ) . I should be able to refuse service to an anti gay person, as a Christian they are breaking my Faith . All Christians are not generic. My Church has gay and trans flags on its website welcoming all.
PhillyProud
I was going to write something like you said.I just want to add that if someone doesn’t like his politics or religion don’t spend any money on what he’s in…
I appreciate your point about not being hypocrites.
ScottOnEarth
This is so completely ridiculous at this point. Is there some law that says every actor/celebrity/public person has to advocate for LGBTQ people? No. I’m not a fan of Chris Pratt’s but the Queer Police sure love to attack people who don’t make queer people the center of their consciousness. Just lighten TF up and stop castigating people for nothing.
RomanHans
These words are literally in the article:
“Chris Pratt gets hate because he monetarily supports a homophobic church.”
Aside from the whole “I’ve never been to Hillsong”/”Dude, there are PHOTOS of you there.”
Kangol2
Think about this way. I do not dislike or hate White people who square dance. I rarely if ever think about White people who square dance, and haven’t known any White people who square dance in many years. I would condemn people passing laws to prevent White people from square dancing or laws harming White people who square dance, and I would never donate to organizations that condemn White people who square dance or try to harm them. If someone came to me and started trashing or downgrading White people who square dance, I’d say, Hold up, cut that sh!t out and let them live their lives, and get help, because you clearly have psychological and emotional issues and are a danger.
Now: Chris Pratt donates to a church that condemns LGBTQ people Being LGBTQ is not a choice or a whim or a fashion, it is intrinsic to who we are. His church actively aims to harm LGBTQ people. It is fully within the realm of anyone’s right to criticize him for contributing to a church that actively condemns LGBTQ people.
abfab
Kangol2. I admire and apprecitate your thoughts and the time you take to convey them, and I second your emotions.
It’s not easy to talk sense into people, but you do it. Now swing your partner do-see-doe!
Openminded
Kanglo, I had to re-read your post. At first I thought you meant that white people who square danced needed to “get help”. As a white person who used to square dance, I took offence to that, but thankfully after the re-read, I understood your logical and well stated point.
Vince
Meh. I don’t think Pratt is a bigot. Maybe not that aware as many that go to church are.
Fname Optional Lname
If you’re giving money on a weekly basis to a church / organization / bake sale – that promotes hatred and encourages the congregation to vote against LGBTQ equality then you know exactly what you are doing and cannot claim “I just love everyone” – Sorry – you are who you surround yourself with. Not falling for it
powersthatbe
Actions speak louder than words. Be seen to actively support love and acceptance, and the world will follow you. If you cannot do that, live by the sword…
inbama
Given what he’s quoted as saying in the article, even if he went there in the past, he certainly couldn’t be a member in good standing now.
DarkZephyr
I don’t think he’s personally homophobic and a lot of pro-gay people I know go to major denominations that have anti-LGBT teachings, so I am not going to join the dog-pile on him just because his particular homophobic church is smaller than the Catholic Church or the Baptist Church.
And he HAS indeed been positive about LGBT rights.
That being said, we can’t point to him saying “I am not overly religious” as evidence against homophobia because all he means by that is that he’s not especially liturgical or ritualistic like Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy or High Church Anglicanism. He doesn’t use incense, or use holy water and other sacramentals, or do chaplets like the rosary etc. That’s all he means.
He’s clearly one of those sola scriptura “bible Christians” that conflates “liturgy” with “religion”. But religion just really means “the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.” So he IS religious and in fact is VERY religious. He spouts his religious beliefs and proselytizes literally every chance he gets, even when accepting awards. In that regard, he’s more religious than the Pope.
FreddieW
I really don’t care whether he’s religious or what he thinks about LGBT issues. I only care whether he gives me my money’s worth at the movie theater.
Tom Cruise is a cultist, and I still watch his movies. He’s in some of my favorites.
abfab
And you’re calling Biden too old?
FreddieW
Yep. He’s 21 years older than I am. I’m on the downside of the cognitive sweet spot, which occurs in a person’s 40’s. And I’m not pretending to be the leader of the free world or prevent global nuclear war or to negotiate with crazy people in Congress. So my age doesn’t matter to anyone but me. And to you, apparently.
abfab
..pretending to be the leader of the free word….
FREDDIEW GOP TROLL
johncp56
There is no hate Like Christain love, this story is old but once again hateful religion, and big money they hide it and give him the big bucks, best to show who this church he attends is really likes, put a light on there hate
abfab
It’s a cult.
Pietro D
I’m keeping out of this but I wiil say: “Much Ado About Nothing”.
Diplomat
As an LGB supporter I think we’ve done an excellent job of establishing our rights. I personally love Chris’s work and unless he’s out there on a street corner bellowing against gay marriage I’m giving him a pass. I have no reason to think he’s homophobic and even if he were, we’re all a work in progress as are all churches.
abfab
Not all Churches, GOP TROLL.
Diplomat
Abscene,
As long as Trans insist on legalizing sexual abuse against women, on that I’m total GOP, though I vote Democrat, always.
All churches are in progress for LGB, it just takes time to see it. Which means we have to have patience. Something you’re way short of.
As far as trans gaining sex abuse rights, as difficult as it may be for you to back off, don’t hold your breath.
abfab
DIP GOP REPETITIVE TROLL
Den
Please provide concrete evidence of the ” legalizing sexual abuse against women” you imagine trans people are doing. I think I agree with everyone here (except for a small handful of wingnuts and trolls) that your connection to reality is questionable. Even your chosen name implies you are delusional as there are few who lost who are less diplomatic.
So…concrete references with notations to reputable sources (as you cannot put live links in comments) indicating ACTUAL attempts to either legislate or engage in abuse of women by trans people, or be laughed at and discounted as a buffoon.
mateo
I used to like this guy when he had a dad bod and was part of the cast on “Parks & Recreation”. Then he turned into a hottie, ceased to be funny, and ever since then I’ve felt indifferent towards him. When the trailer for the first Guardians of the Galaxy came out, I honestly thought it was a parody film–the acting seemed that awful to me. I had no idea they were taking themselves oh-so-seriously. As for his religion, I feel that all religions and all churches are shit. I keep my distance from all of them!
Stan H
His is entitled to his beliefs and we are entitled to voice our reasons why we don’t care for his religion. Now if he pisses you off don’t see his films. But we have to sit-down like adults and discus problems. Don’t be part of the problem by just hating them for hating us. Just listen and talk nicely and be the “Christian” that they claim to be. I always try to remember to treat and talk to people like “A higher power is watching me”. I don’t yell at people when I disagree with them. When I do lose my temper I always apologize”
abfab
Oh jeeze………..wake up and smell the coffee. You’re another pushover, yes, with your right to your opinion, however worthless.
We are not hating, we are calling out the bigotry.
Openminded
Stan H, I admire your attitude and try to be like that myself. Sadly, I too often don’t hit the mark. BTW, it doesn’t make you a push over. Calm adult discussion is what we need more of in all aspects of life, politics, and religion.
abfab
Calm yes! All for that. But ridiculous and ignorarnt, no. Nice try tho.
Diplomat
Abfab,
Stan’s comments were meant for the adults in the room and those ready to grow up. Did you miss that?
abfab
DIP GOP TROLL
Openminded
Abfab, Please get back on your meds. It’s actually O.K. if other people have thoughts different than yours. It’s called adult discussion. To apparently be part of a group that demands everyone else accepts our being “different” than them, you are certainly intolerant to anyone being different than you.
abfab
It’s very curious. There are a group of Gay men here who revert to (because that’s all they got) recommending that some (who they don’t agree with) going on meds or going off meds. Tell me Doctor Open, where do you practice medicine and how did you ever get your degree.
Very interesting when the drug pushers show up.
Diplomat
Absies,
You have the emotional make up of an unteathered five year old so you don’t get respect from adults. Now go play on your teeter totter while the adults continue to enact laws against your out of control behaviors.
abfab
DIPLO GOP TROLL
Your request is denied and rejected. We’ll leave the kiddie playgrounds to your ilk,
Den
“His is entitled to his beliefs”
It is not that simple. Not all beliefs and opinions are equivalent, not all are productive of good and not all need to be accepted. Many Jews (and I say this as a Jew whose family lost all knowledge of those of us still in Europe during WW II, even though my grandparents came in the 1890’s) said the same thing about the national socialists in the 1930’s. The Christian right is not benign in any way, and those who grant them credence lend them strength. They will, if able, (and they are already making inroads here) legitimize discrimination against LGBT people. They will, if able, undermine marriage equality. They will, if able, re-criminalize our love. And those who simply argue that their goals are just “beliefs”, or their hatred simply an “opinion” help them along.
If Chris Pratt has put money in the collection plate of a church that claims we are “broken”, he actively participates in the legitimization and spreading of this ideology.
As for his supposed condemnation of religion, it is important to note that evangelicals/fundamentalists do not see their dogma as religion and are quite vocal about that. They claim it is “a personal relationship with God”, and in fact the only possible “real” relationship with God. So his statement in no way removes him from the political goals of “churches” like Hillsong and Zoe.
McSteve
I never hear this criticism leveled at Tom Cruise because of Scientology, or at Lady Gaga for her Catholicism, or any other Catholic celeb or Republican celeb for that matter. All connected to anti LGBTQ organizations but “attendance” by Chris Pratt must be the smoking gun that he’s a homophobe.
abfab
Don’t say nuthin bad bout Tommy boy……………freddie might freak out.
Den
If you have not heard criticism of Tom Cruise it would only be because you have not been paying attention. As for Lady Gaga, there is no shortage of professed Catholics who support LGBT rights as well as reproductive choice, and the church has chosen not to beat them down. Catholicism does not demand the same lockstep/goose-stepping adherence to narrow dogma with wide ranging hatred as fundamentalist Christianity does.
Openminded
Being devil’s advocate here. Not sure Pratt is the demon as insinuated. We can certainly agree that just because you attend a particular church you are not necessarily standing for everything that church does or has done. We don’t condemn every Catholic person for attending and financially supporting a church that has and by all accounts, still us, allowing leaders to commit atrocious actions towards young men. I’ll give Pratt the benefit of the doubt that he, like many church goers, hasn’t checked out what may be going on within his chosen church. If his statement given in the article are true, he rightly goes to church for God and not the church.
abfab
Devils advocate? Codependency would be more on point. God.
Openminded
And yet, another nonsensical reply from the resident troll.
abfab
”that he, like many church goers, hasn’t checked out what may be going on within his chosen church.”
Only and idiot, and there are millions, that never really bother with critical thinking (church goers) and people like openminded.
smittoons
It’s a fair point that plenty of other celebrities are Christian and don’t have to personally agree with every church doctrine or every word a popular pastor says. I suppose you could make an argument that it’s like supporting a politician whom you like for a myriad of reasons but accept has some positions you don’t agree with at all.
Tom Cruise only gets flak because Scientology was created in the age of mass communication and thoroughly scrutinized (Mormons get side-eye too for being relatively new on the scene). But I definitely don’t see Justin Beiber getting the same backlash as Pratt for more openly going to Hillsong.
At the end of the day, even though I think all religion is BS, I’m of the opinion Pratt is personally supportive of LGBT+ people while also deliberately turning a blind eye to the worst things about his church. He’s not James Woods or a politician (even if he’s eerily politically-connected now), there’s not much point in going after him so hard and perpetuating the notion that the Left is now a PC police force trying to destroy anyone who doesn’t toe every line, censor every joke and edit every thought. That makes it harder for us to espouse how we stand for freedom of expression, freedom to be LGBT+, and the very idea that we are still the fun ones. Combat hatred where it exists, but be mindful of how some of this groupthink is going to look to the people who can twist it to their advantage. There are far more important targets than Chris Pratt to focus on.
abfab
No, an outright refusal to your request. And it’s a shame, really, you ended your opinion with this:
”but be mindful of how some of this groupthink is going to look to the people who can twist it to their advantage.”
No, sorry. Can’t and won’t do that. I would recommend to all, resist.
Den
“I’m of the opinion Pratt is personally supportive of LGBT+ people”
Can you provide one comment that he has made which supports that opinion? Opinions based on nothing are simply self serving magical thinking. As regards his comments about religion: evangelical and fundamentalist do not actually see their faith as “religion”, and they are quite vocal about that. They see it as “a personal relationship with Jesus,” an imaginary distinction as they observe all religious holidays and adhere to all accepted Christian dogma.
“Left is now a PC police force trying to destroy anyone who doesn’t toe every line,”
The left is trying to protect the enfranchisement of people the right sees as ultimately less worthy of full access to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And if you take a realistic look at their actions over the past generation, THEY are the ones bent on destruction. You clearly have a very hard time distinguishing between reality and what you are told to believe.
There are definitely more important tagrets than Pratt to focus on, but are you saying you are personally so simple that you cannot act on more than one goal at a time? How sad that must be for you!!
frapachino
This is why the far left is despised so much by a majority of people in this country. Leave the guy alone I could care less what church he goes to.
abfab
Sorry that you are despised. Your statement is untrue, and you’re missing the point.
Den
All reputable surveys indicate the goals of progressives are shared by a majority of the electorate. The last few elections indicate that the majority of people are less trusting of the right. The only thing that got the right their few (and small) legislative gains was gerrymandering. And the face of modern wingnutism (Trump) has lost the popular vote twice out of two recent tries. Most of us don’t fall for the culture wars bull, which is all the right has to offer.
Perhaps you COULD NOT (learn your own fuxxing language, if you aren’t some foreign troll) care less about which church Pratt attends, but most LGBT people recognize the desires of those churches to force us back into the closet, and that means you, child, if you are actually an LGBT person.
abfab
Gay as a rainbow. Damn, please tell us you got it all out of your system…..
Fahd
The personal lives of some “artists” don’t impact my enjoyment of their work. With others, it does make a difference. It’s kind of a gut feel thing with me. I can’t enjoy Woody Allen anymore, for example, and he has his defenders. I avoid anything Dave Chappelle and Chris Pratt too. How I spend my entertainment budget is my business.
I think churches that promote hate should be called out, and if Pratt supports and belongs to such a church (which it seems like), him too. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
dbmcvey
Honestly, in this case, he hasn’t (to my knowledge) said anything or done anything homophobic so it seems weird to go after him at this time. It’s fine to call out the church but I’m not sure going after him will do any good.
Ken A.
I don’t really care what church he goes to or his religious beliefs. This bullying him on social media because of his perceived beliefs is ridiculous. The truth of the matter is he doesn’t owe anyone anything, the public doesn’t own him. He does slaughter lambs which I despise but I know bullying him and harping on him isn’t going to change that. JUSTIN BIEBER belongs to HILLSONG. SELENA GOMEZ as well and so does NICK JONAS. Yet not a word on this person because Jonas in the past played gay characters and the other two have said nothing. The truth of the matter is, Pratt is going to do Pratt as he should. He does have ugly toenails though.
Invader7
He’s not talented what so ever. Another lame white male. I don’t pay any attention .. Pass him by…
bigdandd
From Day One I NEVER thought Pratt had too many brain cells. On talk shows he always came across as some arrogant a**hole! He is a perfect example of entertainment people that believe the sun rises and sets with them. NEVER liked him in the Jurassic films. Thankfully they have FINALLY ended. As far as the “Guardians” films, the first one was so-so, but the 2nd was a yawner. Most of the appeal was for the other characters, certainly not him. This latest one will probably make the bucks, but who really cares? Like mentioned before, he is NOT talented at all.
xanadude
Who cares either way? I was raised Catholic, and though not technically “practicing,” I will go with my family on Christmas, Easter, whatever. I get out of it what I get out of it for ME, and that is at least something. Whether they care, don’t care, is irrelevant to me. I don’t give them money, I don’t support the Church or all of their beliefs, but again, that’s my journey. No one else’s. People need to stop attacking people–especially not knowing the whole story–just to do it. As much as “we” don’t want people judging, demanding, etc. we need to do the same back. Yes, support each other, and no, don’t support businesses that don’t support the community, but unless he is giving the Church money, which I don’t think he is, this is an intangible thing that isn’t anyone’s business discussing.
Cam
Pratt’s brother has been making signs with the 3% rac-ist logo on it, then pretended not to know what it meant when media called out it.
Pratt has worn religious shirts, gone to more than one anti-lgbtq bigoted church, even did interviews about how these churches were so helpful to him, now claims the opposite.
We get it, he’s a bigot, his brother does woodwork using rac-ist logos, and he supports organizations that want to harm others.
cynthia_foxe
he is a known right winger and im so glad his movies are flopping. he is a dumbo too.