Chris Pratt dumbfounded by brutal response to op-ed he hoped would ‘unite’ Americans ahead of election

Chris Pratt ‘doesn’t realize’ why his neutral op-ed about the 2024 election sparked angry reactions, according to sources who claim the Hollywood actor simply wanted to ‘unite’ people.

The Marvel star, 45, came under fire for the essay he shared ahead of Tuesday’s presidential election, in which Donald Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris and made a historic return to the White House.

Writing for his mother-in-law Maria Shriver’s website Sunday newspaperPratt disappointed fans with his neutrality, claiming he wanted to remind people that whoever the winner of the election is, “we are fellow Americans.”

“Chris is a very open and honest person,” a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. ‘He doesn’t realize why his opinion piece has misled people.

“He is sincere in nature, even if he seems essentially oblivious to the feelings of others.”

They continued: “He is surprised by the response to his op-ed. He wanted people to talk about it and make an impact.

‘He wanted to unite people, but all he has done is unite people against him. He’s been taken back.’

In his essay, The Guardians Of The Galaxy star wrote: “It’s okay to take a moment to lick your wounds when you lose. Heck, go ahead and cry in the mirror.

“But if we become too paralyzed by defeat or too pompous in victory, loyalty to our ‘team’ can blind us to the fact that we are fellow countrymen.”

Several users on Reddit condemned Pratt, saying the actor’s relatively non-committal political statement came across as lame and of little value.

His statement seemed to sting even more as it came just days after his father-in-law, and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, told the world, “I will always be an American before I am a Republican.” That’s why I’m voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz this week.”

Schwarzenegger claimed that a second presidential term for Trump “will just be four years of bulls**t with no results that make us angrier and angrier, more divided and more hateful.”

“We must close the door on this chapter of American history, and I know former President Trump won’t do that. He will sow division, he will offend, he will find new ways to be more un-American than he already has been, and we, the people, will only become more enraged.”

The insider shared how Pratt’s extended family feels about his choice not to openly take sides in politics, noting, “Maria and Arnold respect him and know the man he is.”

“They don’t agree with all of his positions, but it’s not a deal breaker because they, like everyone else he’s friends with, know that he doesn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings or make them think a certain way. .’

The insider claimed that Schwarzenegger and Pratt will refrain from discussing the election results, but the Terminator is “always there for advice if Chris ever asks for it or needs it.”

They continued, “Arnold, even though he is a Republican, is rooting for Kamala and he has his own reasons for that.

“Whoever Chris votes for is his own decision and Arnold will accept it. He just wants Chris to be the man he needs to be for his children and daughter.”

In Pratt’s piece, the Moneyball actor also gave his advice on how to be a good citizen regardless of the election outcome.

‘How do we become a nation of honorable winners and graceful losers? It starts with remembering, no matter who wins or loses, there will still be people who need help in this country,” he wrote, adding that you need to “find them” and “serve them.”

Pratt urged both sides to “accept the results and instead focus on standing up for each other.”

The Tomorrow War actor also talked about losing a wrestling match as a child and how he “cried for at least an hour” until he realized that “losing is part of the game.”

With that in mind, Pratt reflected on today’s people, noting that he thinks “a lot of people have yet to learn that lesson.”

“Sometimes your team doesn’t win,” Pratt said. “As I write this, the 2024 presidential election is three days away. The greatest game of all time is approaching.

‘Team Red versus Team Blue. A rematch for all ages. A confrontation four years in the making. It gives UFC 3 million energy.”

Pratt is expecting his third child with wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, 34. The couple are already parents to daughters Lyla Maria, four, and Eloise Christina, two.

He is also father to son Jack Pratt, 12, from his previous marriage to actress Anna Faris, 47.

Despite his intentions to promote peace, the response serves as another example of how Pratt has found himself in hot water in recent years as a result of his politics and faith.

Pratt was criticized in 2019 by Elliot Page, who said the actor joined a “notorious anti-LGBTQ” church. The exhaust Vox reported that Pratt was a parishioner of Zoe Church in Los Angeles.

Ahead of the 2020 election between Trump and President Joe Biden, he was branded on social media as “Hollywood’s Worst Chris” for his suspected right-wing leanings.

Amid the commotion, a number of Pratt’s Marvel costars, including Mark Ruffalo, Josh Brolin and Robert Downey Jr., showed up. – as well as his brother-in-law Patrick Schwarzenegger – came to Pratt’s defense with public statements defending his character.

In November 2021, he came under fire again for a social media post he wrote in praise of his wife gave birth to a ‘healthy’ child.

Some considered it a trifle because of the fact Pratt and Faris’ son Jack faced multiple health issues after being born two months premature and weighing just three pounds and twelve ounces.

The actor admitted in 2022 that he was deeply upset by the “f***ed up” pushback, noting that he feared Jack “would read that one day… and it’s etched in digital stone.”