PHOTOSChris Pratt Denies Claims His Church Is Anti-LGBTQ Says It ‘Opens Doors’ To Everyone
Feb. 12 2019, Published 4:24 p.m. ET
Chris Pratt is standing by his church. Days after Ellen Page slammed the Zoe Church for being homophobic, the actor used his Instagram to shoot down her claims.
After retweeting a clip of the 39-year-old Jurassic World star’s recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Ellen wrote, “Oh. K. Um. But his church is infamously anti-LGBTQ so maybe address that too?”
The 31-year-old Gaycation star 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 it severe. Full stop. Sending love to all.”
“If LGBTQ+ people are expressing their pain, their trauma, their experiences...maybe just try and listen?” she finished. “Open your heart, stop being defensive and have compassion.” Ellen and her wife Emma Portner announced their marriage in January 2018.
The church she was referring to is Hillsong, which boasts celebrity members including: Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin, Selena Gomez, and Chris’ fiancée Katherine Schwarzenegger.
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Shortly after Ellen’s tweets, Chris posted a lengthy response on his Instagram Story. “It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which ‘hates a certain group of people’ and is ‘infamously anti-LGBTQ,’” he wrote. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone.”
He then explained that he found solace in the church when he was going through his divorce from Anna Faris. “Despite what the Bible says about divorce, my church community was there for me every stop of the way, never judging, just gracefully accompanying me on my walk,” he wrote.
“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,” he added.
The Parks and Recreation alum then ended the lengthy post by writing that though his faith was important, “no church defines him or his life.”
