Chris Pratt Finally Addresses Backlash Over Religious Beliefs

Chris Pratt has hit back at the allegations that he's a member of an anti LGBTQ+ church, claiming that he's "not a religious person".

Pratt, who plays Star Lord in the MCU and has also landed staring roles in the upcoming Mario and Garfield movies, has been a controversial figure among some fans for a while now. The biggest issue for many of Pratt's critics is his supposed involvement with Hillsong Church and the belief that he is anti-LGBTQ+ by association.

However, Pratt claims that he's never attended Hillsong and doesn't know any members of that particular church.

"Religion has been oppressive as f*** for a long time. I didn't know that I would become the face of religion when I'm not really a religious person," Pratt explained in a recent interview with Men's Health.

"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 added: "I never went to Hillsong. I've never actually been to Hillsong. I don't know anyone from that church."

Back in 2019 actor Elliot Page called Pratt out after an interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert where he spoke about religion.

"If you are a famous actor and you belong to an organization that hates a certain group of people, don't be surprised if someone simply wonders why it's not addressed. Being anti-LGBTQ is wrong, there aren't two sides. The damage it causes is severe. Full stop."

Pratt responded at the time: "It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which 'hates a certain group of people' and is 'infamously anti-LGBTQ.' Nothing could be further from the truth. I am a man who believes that everyone is entitled to love who they want free from the judgment of their fellow man."

While neither Page nor Pratt mentioned his church by name, it was understood (and subsequently confirmed to Men's Health) that Pratt attends Zoe Church. While Zoe Church itself has remained fairly quiet on LGBTQ+ issues, there have been reports suggesting it has ties to Hillsong.

Speaking to Men's Health about why it's taken him so long to clarify which church he belongs too, he said: "I'm gonna, like, throw a church under the bus? If it's like the Westboro Baptist Church, that's different."