‘Avengers’ stars defend Chris Pratt after online backlash: ‘Look at how he lives his life’

At the film’s Los Angeles premiere, Chris Pratt says his son and his friends loved new animated movie “Onward,” while Pratt’s co-star Tom Holland discusses the film’s impact on young boys. (Feb. 19) AP Entertainment

If you’ve been on Twitter recently, you might have noticed a certain celebrity trending high: Chris Pratt. And not in a good way. Now, his famous friends – and his wife – are coming to his defense.

After the “Guardians of the Galaxy” star went viral over the weekend as social media debated Hollywood’s least desirable Chris, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and more celebrities posted strong defenses of their “Avengers” co-star, while Pratt’s wife Katherine Schwarzenegger called out the “mean” challenge.

“What a world … The ‘sinless’ are casting stones at my brother, Chris Pratt,” said Downey Jr. in part of a longer message Tuesday.

“You all, @prattprattpratt is as solid a man there is. I know him personally, and instead of casting aspersions, look at how he lives his life,” Mark Ruffalo tweeted Tuesday.

But wait, what happened?

Much of the conversation stemmed from a tweet shared Saturday by filmmaker Amy Berg that asked Twitter users which Hollywood Chris they would get rid of out of a lineup that includes Pratt, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine and Chris Evans.

“One has to go,” Berg tweeted with photos of each Chris.

Responses to the post soon followed, with many choosing Pratt, citing speculation surrounding his political stance.

“Chris Pratt because he’s MAGA. He’s the worst Chris,” @DrChaeEd wrote in a retweet of the post, despite Pratt not publicity endorsing any 2020 presidential candidate.

Katherine Schwarzenegger (left) and Chris Pratt announced the birth of their daughter Lyla Maria Schwarzenegger Pratt on Aug. 10.

 (Photo: Jordan Strauss, Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

“I just searched why Chris Pratt was trending and I’m upset,” @SimasaurusX tweeted.

Some tweets also pointed out that Pratt belongs to Hillsong, a megachurch that has been accused of anti-LGBTQ views.

“Well, seeing as three of them are progressive, and one of them actively defends his church for being homophobic … Bye, Chris Pratt,” @jeffbrutlag tweeted. 

“Chris Pratt is part of a church that supports conversion therapy. We’ve been (We) knew who has to go,” @agonethetic wrote.

Some fans came to Pratt’s defense: “He’s not maga. He never said he was. In fact he’s almost never political. People can’t mind their own business these days smh,” @NateAsHimself tweeted.

USA TODAY has reached out to Pratt’s representative for comment.

The assumptions surrounding Pratt’s politics were heightened by his absence in an upcoming virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden led by some superhero co-stars.

“Voters Assemble!,” on Tuesday, featured “Avengers” cast members Evans, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Rudd, Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana for a night of Q&A and trivia with vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris.

In his tweet Tuesday, Ruffalo noted Pratt “is just not overtly political as a rule. This is a distraction. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize, friends. We are so close now.”

Posting a photo on Instagram of the two on set together, Downey Jr. called Pratt “a real Christian who lives by principle, has never demonstrated anything but positivity and gratitude … AND he just married into a family that makes space for civil discourse and (just plain fact) INSISTS on service as the highest value.”

“Zoe Saldana shared a quote and a message for Pratt on Twitter.

“No matter how hard it gets, stick your chest out, keep your head up and handle it. -Tupac,” she wrote. “You got this @prattprattpratt. Your family, friends, colleagues & everyone who’s ever crossed paths with you knows your heart and your worth!”

“Guardians” director James Gunn called the controversy “nonsense.”

He continued, “@prattprattpratt is the best dude in the world. I’ve spent hours & hours sharing my deepest truths with this man, as he has with me. Please stop assuming what he believes, politically or in any other way, because he’s a Christian.”

Schwarzenegger, who welcomed her first child with Pratt in August, defended her husband as well.

“Is this really what we need?” Schwarzenegger commented under E! News’ Instagram post. “There’s so much going on in the world and people struggling in so many ways. Being mean is so yesterday. There’s enough room to love all these guys. Love is what we all need not meanness and bullying. Let’s try that.”

Pratt married Schwarzenegger, the daughter of former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in June 2019.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, who spent two terms as the governor, has sparred frequently with President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican. But, in an interview with USA TODAY in October 2019, he insisted he enters his battles selectively. 

“I’m not positioning myself to be a critic of Trump, only when it’s obvious,” Arnold Schwarzenegger said. “That’s why you don’t hear from me for months, even if I don’t like what’s going on.”

Contributing: Cydney Henderson, Andrea Mandell

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