Chris Pratt recognizes the diversity problem in Hollywood but from the wrong viewpoint.
In a recent interview with Men’s Fitness, Pratt said that Hollywood needs to do a better job of representing the average “blue-collar” American, completely forgetting about the plethora of recent movies, like Fences and Manchester by the Sea, that have highlighted the many struggles the average working American. He also ignored the fact he starred in a sitcom, Parks and Recreation, representing that struggle for seven seasons.
“I don’t see personal stories that necessarily resonate with me because they’re not my stories,” said Pratt. “I think there’s room for me to tell mine, and probably an audience that would be hungry for them. The voice of the average, blue-collar American isn’t necessarily represented in Hollywood.”
To be fair, the Guardians of the Galaxy star is a Washington state native who didn’t have a typical cookie-cutter life. Pratt has made hints that his childhood was less-than-privileged, and when he was older, Pratt was homeless selling coupons for a living and residing in a trailer or a tent at one point.
However, Pratt is still a straight, white, cisgender male, and he is right that Hollywood underrepresents a marginalized community. That community pertains to race and gender, not blue-collar workers.
Pratt is wanting to put his privilege to good use, though. The Jurassic World frontman later discussed the ongoing issue of the country’s polarizing division from the recent political climate, and he wants to help bridge the gap.
“I really feel there’s common ground out there that’s missed because we focus on the things that separate us,” said Pratt. “You’re either the red state or the blue state, the left or the right. Not everything is politics. And maybe that’s something I’d want to help bridge because I don’t feel represented by either side.”
Pratt later realized his statement on the underrepresented worker was incorrect and semi-apologized for it.
That was actually a pretty stupid thing to say. I'll own that. There's a ton of movies about blue collar America. https://t.co/DclYfNsiv3
— Chris Pratt (@prattprattpratt) April 21, 2017
However, what’s done is done, and the internet is never one to withhold its opinion.
#chrispratt continues to say ignorant shit and makes me not want to see his films. @DisneyStudios @UniversalPics Control him better..
— Bryant Watson (@bryantwatson) April 22, 2017
Chris Pratt has been working actor for almost 20 years. Blue collar?!?!?
— 🩷 Rebekah Weatherspoon Book Updates! 🩷 (@RdotSpoon) April 21, 2017
"The average, blue-collar American worker isn't represented in Hollywood" says Chris Pratt who played a shoe shiner on a popular sitcom pic.twitter.com/zlp4voqztn
— Eric Francisco (@EricFrancisco24) April 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/jessicaesquire/status/855402999270780929
https://twitter.com/aristotiIes/status/855535260615942144
https://twitter.com/DETECTlVECOMlCS/status/855538917562609664
Some people still had Pratty’s back and offered their own two cents on the controversy.
https://twitter.com/biethanhunt/status/855579464100712448
https://twitter.com/RisingIdentity/status/855791908920184832
It's cool bro 🤙🏾
— ✰🇵🇭🖖🏾✰ (@FILIPINO_CHAMP) April 22, 2017
What there maybe isn't enough of(?) is Hollywood movies about class divides(?)
— Empathy is Connection (@dmcinnis) April 22, 2017
Fair is fair. I retweet the stupid thing, I also retweet the mea culpa. Thanks for owning your stupidity, @prattprattpratt 👍🏻 https://t.co/OPUZraLCul
— VN Palette (@VNPalette) April 22, 2017
But, at the same time, he feels those are his roots. It's not necessarily wrong to ID with those roots just because you came up.
— Papa Fuerte (@TheMikeTre) April 21, 2017
Kudos for apologizing for your mistake, Chris. You haven’t completely ruined your credibility, yet.