Chris Pratt shared his thoughts on the U.S.’s political climate during the election period in a piece published by his mother-in-law Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper.
The actor wrote, “I understand that people’s lives and rights are on the line. I also see that there are millions of people who feel overlooked and invisible to our government and are desperate for something to change.”
He continued, “I’m trying to make sense of the election through the eyes of Americans on both sides. I’ve been thinking a lot about where we’ll be as a nation on November 6th, how we can attempt to move forward after so much division,” using sports as a metaphor to discuss the challenges of losing.
“I love this country,” Pratt further explained. “I’m looking for ways to stay connected to my fellow Americans. I also think there are millions out there like me looking to do the same—to find a way to come together after the election, no matter who wins or loses.”
“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 paralysed by defeat or too pompous in victory, allegiance to our ‘team’ can blind us to the fact that we are fellow countrymen.”
Pratt’s Christian beliefs and military support led some to believe he had right-wing views in the past though he never confirmed his political side. His newly-revealed neutral stance brought along a backlash from fans, who argued that sitting on the fence in this election period was not possible.
The controversy came up after Pratt’s Marvel co-stars Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Mark Ruffalo made a video promoting Kamala Harris for the presidency. The actor’s parents-in-law, Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, previously shared their support for Harris, as well.