Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn came to the defense Chris Pratt after folks on Twitter criticized the actor for telling Kevin Smith—who just suffered from a massive heart attack—that he was praying for him.
After reading Smith’s tweets about his heart attack, Pratt reached out to the comedian on Twitter and told him that he was praying for his recovery and asked his followers to join him.
Kevin we don’t know each other too good but I have loved you since Clerks and I’m praying my ass off for you cause I believe in the healing power of prayer. Can you please pray with me people!? 🙏♥️ https://t.co/syB7BiQaoY
— Chris Pratt (@prattprattpratt) February 26, 2018
Praying for you. I will continue to. You inspired me with Clerks when I was a senior HS. I’m tagging my Lb/rb football coach who showed me the movie cause he believed in me and knew I’d be inspired. @hodge1916 🙏♥️🙏 https://t.co/syB7BiQaoY
— Chris Pratt (@prattprattpratt) February 26, 2018
The critics on Twitter lumped Pratt’s tweets together with those of politicians who call for “thoughts and prayers” after mass shootings and other catastrophic events. The original tweets appear to have been deleted, but a few of the critics kept their tweets.
Science and a team of caring, hard working physicians and nurses saved @ThatKevinSmith . The great sky fairy doesn’t exist. 🤷🏻♀️
— MissMolecular ⚛️ (@20to1Devotchka) February 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/Jarrod863/status/968077116926394368
Gunn saw all the hate directed at Pratt on Monday morning. He wrote a thread of tweets defending Pratt and pointed out the difference between Pratt’s prayers and prayers from politicians.
“There is nothing wrong with sending someone positive thoughts & prayers. But when this is coupled with inaction when action will benefit the situation, it’s empty,” he wrote. “If you’re offering Parkland shooting survivors prayers, but are unwilling to deal with the problems of gun violence in this country in a practical way, those prayers are empty.”
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/968136815092801537
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/968136822927671298
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/968136824878059520
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/968136827214348290
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/968136829030420481
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/968136834856337408
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/968136836886405121
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/968136838572515328
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/968136845006524417
Critics also seemed to have overlooked the fact that Smith was raised Catholic and told the BBC in 2014 that he believes in God. He probably appreciated the prayers from Pratt.