Chris Pratt is on the defensive after Ellen Page recently slammed the actor for attending a church she claimed is “infamously anti-LGBTQ.”
Pratt, 39, slammed Page’s claims Monday on Instagram, writing: “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 go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone.”
The “Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” actor went on to explain that members of his church were there for him following his divorce from Anna Faris last year.
Pratt frequently attends Zoe Church, which is modeled after Hillsong Church, a megachurch founded in Australia but which has locations in New York City and Los Angeles, the New York Times previously reported. Variety stated Pratt was also a Hillsong church attendee.
“Despite what the Bible says about divorce my church community was there for me every step of the way, never judging, just gracefully accompanying me on my walk,” Pratt said. “They helped me tremendously offering love and support. It is what I have seen them do for others on countless occasions regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender.”
The “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” star also noted that although “faith is important” to him “no church defines me or my life, and I am not a spokesman for any church or any group of people.”
“My values define who I am,” he continued. “We need less hate in this world, not more. I am a man who believes that everyone is entitled to love who they want free from the judgment of their fellow man.”
Pratt concluded his Instagram post by sharing how his faith navigates him in life.
“Jesus said, ‘I give you a new command, love one another,'” he wrote. “This is what guides me in my life. He is a God of Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness. Hate has no place in my or this world.”
Page’s criticism came after Pratt appeared on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” last Thursday and talked about being religious and completing a 21-day fast inspired by the Biblical prophet Daniel.
“Oh. K. Um. But his church is infamously anti lgbtq so maybe address that too?” Page tweeted along with a Hollywood Reporter article about Pratt’s interview.
Oh. K. Um. But his church is infamously anti lgbtq so maybe address that too? https://t.co/meg8m69FeF
— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) February 8, 2019
On Saturday, Page — who came out as gay during a 2014 speech in Las Vegas at a conference for the Human Rights Campaign — doubled down on her comment against Pratt and said the actor should “try and listen” to the LGBTQ community.
“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,” the 31-year-old actress tweeted Saturday. “Being anti LGBTQ is wrong, there aren’t two sides. The damage it causes is severe. Full stop. Sending love to all.”
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. Sending love to all
— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) February 9, 2019
She said in another tweet: “If lgbtq+ people are expressing their pain, their trauma, their experiences … maybe just try and listen? Open your heart, stop being defensive and have compassion. It’s a beautiful and life changing feeling, empathy. Much love truly to all.”
If lgbtq+ people are expressing their pain, their trauma, their experiences…maybe just try and listen? Open your heart, stop being defensive and have compassion. It’s a beautiful and life changing feeling, empathy.
Much love truly to all.— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) February 9, 2019
Senior pastor Brian Houston at Hillsong previously said in a 2015 statement that the church does “not affirm a gay lifestyle.”
“We do not affirm a gay lifestyle and because of this we do not knowingly have actively gay people in positions of leadership, either paid or unpaid,” he said in a post on the church’s website. “I recognize this one statement alone is upsetting to people on both sides of this discussion, which points to the complexity of the issue for churches all over the world.”
He said that he loves and accepts “people on a personal level.”
“Everyone is welcome at Hillsong church except for known predators, those who are disruptive, or those who have adversarial agendas,” he said, adding that gay people are welcomed at the church but cannot pursue a leadership role.
