Chris Pratt says he has ‘never’ been to the anti-LGBTQ Hillsong church
In an interview with Men's Health the Guardians of the Galaxy actor gives his firmest comments on the subject to date.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Wiki Commons
Guardians of the Galaxy actor, Chris Pratt, says he “never” went to the anti-LGBTQ church, Hillsong following questions over his association with the organisation.
In an interview with Men’s Health the actor, 43, responded to criticism from actor Elliot Page who suggested the actor address his connection after talking about his “spiritual side” on the US talk show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
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
— Elliot Page (@TheElliotPage) February 9, 2019
In 2019 Page tweeted: “Oh. K. Um. But his church is infamously anti lgbtq so maybe address that too?”
In another tweet page added: “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”
Speaking to Men’s Health, Pratt says: “I never went to Hillsong. I’ve never actually been to Hillsong. I don’t know anyone from that church.”
Asked why he didn’t say that at the time the Jurassic World action man adds: “I’m gonna, like, throw a church under the bus?” If it’s like the Westboro Baptist Church, that’s different.”
In 2019 he said the following in response to Page: “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 the opens their doors to absolutely everyone.”
He also said: “My values define who I am. 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.”
Hillsong, which is also reported to have attracted celebrities such as Justin and Hailey Bieber, was founded in 1983 in Australia.
Carl Lentz – who was fired from the church in 2020 after being unfaithful to his wife – said in 2015 that homosexuality is a sin and a gay member of the church could never hold a leadership position.
The Daily Beast has previously reported that members have been offered ‘conversion therapy’ after coming out and others have been kicked out for being open about their sexuality.
Chris Pratt tells Men’s Health he actually worships at Zoe Church, which founder pastor Chad Veach says he modelled after Hillsong. MH writes that Veach produced a 2017 film that equated “sexual brokenness” with “same-sex attraction.”
Pratt adds he doesn’t go to the church exclusively.
The Attitude July/August issue is out now.