The Interlude

For what seems like the tenth year in a row, Chris Pratt reigns again as the internet’s Worst Chris (compared to the likes Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Pine). Year after year on Twitter, random people assess who is the “worst Chris” — all in good fun — but this year, his Marvel colleagues had something to say about Pratt’s unanimous win. Fellow Marvel alums, from Robert Downey Jr. to James Gunn, defended Pratt on Tuesday against not only the online trolls, but the sincere critics of Pratt’s support of The Hillsong Church, a notoriously anti-LGBTQ organization.

During a time of unrelenting turmoil, celebrities still have something to say, and it has nothing productive to do with the dismantling of systemic racism or patriarchy. It has everything to do with ego and reputation. Mark Ruffalo attempted to settle the online fun by making Pratt’s apolitical stance, political, stating, “You all, @prattprattpratt is as solid a man there is. I know him personally, and instead of casting aspersions, look at how he lives his life. He is just not overtly political as a rule. This is a distraction. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize, friends. We are so close now.” This is the same man that consoled Chris Evans online after he accidentally exposed himself online, tweeting, “Bro, while Trump is in office there is NOTHING you could possibly do to embarrass yourself. See… silver lining.”

Mark Ruffalo reminds me of every wealthy middle-aged white person who makes a personality out of hating Donald Trump, all the while wanting things to go back to the “good ol’ days” aka the days when being “not overtly political” wasn’t critiqued. People like Mark Ruffalo remind me that the people who hate Trump still long for the time when they didn’t have to care about politics, because it didn’t affect them. But what’s worse about this is the failure to read the room: Chris Pratt will still have work and sit on millions of dollars when millions of Americans struggle to obtain job security and are being evicted by the masses.

Movie stars don’t have to care about that; they only have to care about their image. But where was this surge of support for someone like Brie Larson when she was receiving hate mail and death threats once she was announced as Captain Marvel? Where was Robert Downey Jr. when Marvel fans bitched and moaned about Zendaya being cast as MJ in Spider-Man? Women, especially women of color, historically acquire the most criticism from male dominated, mega-franchise fan bases, so it’s no surprise that Marvel alums kept their mouths shut when it came to defending or speaking up for their female colleagues; they stay silent because they don’t want to alienate their fans. But this time, the hate for Chris Pratt wasn’t coming from their base, it was coming from a larger audience — one they don’t have to appease and one they can’t control.

So, I’m tired of giving these people my attention, my money, my words when they’re so out of touch with reality to think twice about posting online in support of a movie star or posting a video singing to “Imagine” when thousands of people are dying and losing their jobs. Celebrities are being moronic again, and we choose whether or not to give them our attention, money, and time. And frankly, I’m done, and you should be too.