Chris Pratt faces backlash for his recent post. Image Source: CNN
Chris Pratt received a lot of backlash from fans and people on the Internet after he posted a pre-birthday wish for his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, daughter of noted star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In his post, Chris Pratt wrote, “Guys. For real. Look how she’s looking at me! I mean. Find you somebody that looks at you like that!! You know!? We met in church. She’s given me an amazing life, a gorgeous healthy daughter, she chews so loudly that sometimes I put in my earbuds to drown it out, but that’s love! She helps me with everything. In return, periodically, I open a jar of pickles. That’s the trade. Her heart is pure and it belongs to me. My greatest treasure, right next to my Ken Griffey Jr Upper Deck Rookie Card. Which if you know, you know is saying a lot. It’s her birthday in about 6 weeks. So if I don’t get her anything, I’ll tell her to look back on this post. Love you honey.”
Even though the caption seemed heartfelt, a section of fans that did not take the post in a very positive way because of the actor’s poor choice of words in the caption which included, “healthy daughter”, seemed like he was mocking his ex-wife Anna Faris with whom he shares a nine-year-old son Jack who has suffered from serious health issues due to complications at birth. It is a known fact that their son, Jack was born nine weeks premature and had to spend many weeks in the NICU before he was able to go home.
The couple Chris Pratt and Anna Faris got married in 2009, and announced their separation in a joint statement which was released in August 2017. The couple's divorce was finalized in 2018.
Anna Faris, Jack Pratt, and Chris Pratt. Image Source: Entertainment Tonight
In fact, in her memoir ‘Unqualified‘ actress Anna Faris opened up even more about Jack’s health and his birth, saying, “The pediatric neurosurgeon sat Chris and me down to tell us that Jack had some severe brain bleeding and there was a chance that he could be developmentally disabled.” While the child continues to be in good health today, he has had to undergo a few surgeries and is currently living with visual impairments along with a non-life-threatening heart problem.
During her podcast titled, ‘Unqualified’, the actress shared with Jimmy and his wife Molly McNearney, "[My son with Chris Pratt] Jack had a few surgeries—he had a few hernia surgeries, he's had a few eye surgeries, and he had a little heart issue as well. When Jack was born two months early, it came as a huge shock and suddenly, your world completely shifts. The doctors and nurses that helped us and surrounded us were so unbelievably supportive that it inspired Chris and I and my parents to all get involved in this."
In 2014, Chris Pratt also recognized his son’s early struggles at a March of Dimes Celebration of Babies and has mentioned, “I made promises in that moment about what kind of dad I wanted to be, and I just prayed that he’d live long enough that I could keep them". The actor famous for his role as Star-Lord in “Guardians of the Galaxy” has been very vocal about his faith, said the time, “Our Jack went from a small, helpless little squirt to a strong, smart, happy, funny, beautiful boy who loves monster trucks and ‘Daniel Tiger,’ and, believe it or not, loves vegetables. Broccoli and cherry tomatoes are his favorite foods.”
The friendly exes are now supporters of GAPPS, which seeks to improve birth outcomes worldwide by reducing the burden of premature birth and stillbirths, but the recent post definitely stirred something among the actress’ fans. The Tomorrow War and Guardians of the Galaxy star went on to marry Katherine Schwarzenegger in June 2019, and they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Lyla Maria, in August 2020.
Some fans expressed their dislike ness towards the actor’s caption by writing, “This is literally so gross”. Another one added, “It reads like ‘my new wife gave me a *healthy* child unlike you, Anna Faris.’ Anna and Jack deserve so much better.” Amid the furor, one fan added, “Let’s focus on praising HER than paying him any attention. She is a comedic GODDESS.” “Why mention she gave you a healthy daughter? Are you bitter that your son was premature and has health issues?? That’s such a passive-aggressive statement,” one person wrote.
“As a special needs parent, you triggered me when you said she gave you a ‘healthy’ daughter. Like implying your last wife didn’t? Your kiddo has special needs, and he’s special and healthy too! You should praise her for everything she’s been through. And him too. Just saying’, that wasn’t Christian-like, dude,” another commented. Someone else asked "why there was no mention of Katherine Schwarzenegger being a “great stepmother” to Jack.
Another user wrote, “I love Chris Pratt, but the ‘healthy daughter’ part is made me wince. Although he may not have meant it as an insult, it sort of came off that way. Imagine how that will make his son feel, if he ever reads it?”
In reaction to the actor's fan backlash, his mother-inlaw Maria Shriver left a supportive comment on Chris Pratt's Instagram post. She wrote, "I want to remind you today what a nice man you are and what a great parent you are to Jack and Lyla. What a wonderful husband you are to Katherine, what a wonderful son-in-law you are to me ,and what a wonderful sense of humor you possess!! Chris, I love you. Keep being your lovely self and rising above the noise. Your kids adore you , your family adores you , and your wife adores you. You have a beautiful life, and I'm proud of you. xo"
Chris Pratt later posted a video in which he shared, "I went to bed last night really kind of upset and depressed, and I woke up feeling crappy and I didn't want to work out." The actor further shared that he eventually worked out but has not yet acknowledged the social media backlash.
