Chris Pratt has had his fair share of controversial moments throughout his career, despite being well known for his role as Andy on Parks and Recreation. In 2020, a meme went viral asking people to choose which Hollywood Chris “has to go” between Pratt, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Pine. Pratt jokingly addressed the meme on his Instagram Stories, acknowledging that he was picked last. Some of his controversies over the years include comments he made about the representation of blue-collar Americans in Hollywood and his insensitivity towards the deaf and hard-of-hearing community by suggesting fans not read subtitles.
In 2017, Pratt made headlines after claiming that blue-collar Americans were not well represented in Hollywood and that there was room for him to tell his own story as well. However, he later admitted that his remarks were a mistake and acknowledged that there are plenty of movies about blue-collar America. Just a month later, he made headlines again when he asked his fans to turn up the volume instead of reading subtitles in a video, which was considered insensitive by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Pratt later apologized, acknowledging his ignorance and expressing regret for offending those with hearing disabilities.
Pratt, who has been open about his faith, faced rumors in 2019 that he was a member of the controversial Hillsong Church, known for its anti-LGBTQIA+ views. Pratt denied his association with the church and emphasized that the church he attended was welcoming to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, race, or gender. Three years later, he publicly distanced himself from the rumors and expressed that he is not a religious person, despite being associated with religion by the public.
In 2020, Pratt raised eyebrows when social media users interpreted a post thanking his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger for their “healthy” daughter as a dig at his ex-wife, Anna Faris. This caused backlash, with people criticizing him for seemingly shading Faris and their son, who was born prematurely. Pratt later revealed that he was deeply affected by the criticism and found it hurtful, especially considering the impact it could have on his son in the future.
In April 2024, Pratt and Schwarzenegger faced backlash for their decision to demolish their Los Angeles home, a historic property known as the Zimmerman house. The couple purchased the house to be closer to Schwarzenegger’s mother, Maria Shriver, which led to criticism from preservationists who were upset about the demolition of the 1953 home designed by Craig Ellwood. Pratt and Schwarzenegger have not addressed the criticism regarding the demolition of the historic property.
Chris Pratt’s controversies over the years have ranged from comments about representation in Hollywood to insensitivity towards certain communities, as well as rumors about his religious affiliation and perceived shade towards his ex-wife. Despite facing backlash for his statements and actions, Pratt has addressed some of the controversies and apologized for any harm caused. As a public figure, Pratt continues to navigate the challenges of fame and scrutiny, striving to learn from his mistakes and grow as an individual in the public eye.
