Chris Pratt reckons he isn't a religious man.
Yes, he might go to church. Yes, he might talk about God in interviews. Or at awards shows. But he is not a religious man.
During an interview with Men's Health, Pratt pinpointed the moment when he was crowned as 'Hollywood's Religious Guy' and the label has stuck ever since.
It all came down to a speech at the MTV Movie Awards in 2018 when the Guardians of the Galaxy star was honoured with the Generation Award.
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He said he was told to say something 'inspiring' in his speech, so he decided to talk about The Big Guy Upstairs.
"God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you," he told the audience, while clinging to his little golden trophy.
But now he's hit at everyone thinking he's a big believer in religion.
"Religion has been oppressive as f**k for a long time," he told Men's Health.
"I didn’t know that I would kind of become the face of religion when really I’m not a religious person."
He added: "I think there’s a distinction between being religious - adhering to the customs created by man, oftentimes appropriating the awe reserved for who I believe is a very real God - and using it to control people, to take money from people, to abuse children, to steal land, to justify hatred."
The Jurassic World star has also hit back at claims that he was linked to Hillsong, a happy-clapper Pentecostal church that started in western Sydney.
“I never went to Hillsong. I’ve never actually been to Hillsong. I don’t know anyone from that church," Pratt said to Men's Health.
Instead, Pratt goes to the celeb-studded Zoe Church, which is also attended by Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin, and Selena Gomez.
Zoe's pastor, Chad Veach, told The New York Times that he 'modelled his church after Hillsong', which may have led to Umbrella Academy star Elliot Page lashing out at him over religion on social media.
In another interview, Pratt reveals he really doesn't like being called Chris, which is kind of weird considering that's his first name.
He told SiriusXM's Pop Culture Spotlight With Jessica Shaw that ‘it feels weird’ when someone calls him by his actual name.
Shaw asked The Terminal List actor: "What do they call you? Pratt?"
To which he answered: "Yep. Pratt. CP. You know, CP. 'Hey, CP.'
"But no one calls me Chris. My friend, Chad. I went golfing with my friend, Chad, my pastor the other day and he was like, 'No one calls you Chris? I'm gonna call you Chris. Alright, Chris. You're up.'
"And I was like, 'No, it feels weird. It's not my name. Don't call me Chris.'"
Topics: Chris Pratt, Celebrity
Rachel Lang