After reading the concerning tweet that fellow actor and director Kevin Smith posted yesterday about surviving a near-fatal heart attack, Chris Pratt quickly took to Twitter in request of prayer from followers.
After the first show this evening, I had a massive heart attack. The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka “the Widow-Maker”). If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight. But for now, I’m still above ground! pic.twitter.com/M5gSnW9E5h
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) February 26, 2018
“Kevin we don’t know each other too good,” wrote Pratt, “but I have loved you since Clerks and I’m praying my a** off for you cause I believe in the healing power of prayer. Can you please pray with me people!?”
Disappointingly, yet perhaps unsurprisingly in an era where everything generates offense, Twitter trolls instantly jumped at the opportunity to bash Pratt.
‘How dare you have the audacity to make a prayer request instead of relying on medicine alone?‘ seemed to be the common theme among critics.
Below are just a few of the cutting remarks:
The reactions echoed the response the openly Christian actor recevied in 2016 when he petitioned for prayer for 4-year-old fan Spencer Hodnett who was suffering from brain cancer:
Amidst the bitter division, thankfully director and screenwriter James Gunn hit back with some bold truth that was pretty hard to argue.
So I just read Chris Pratt’s tweet to Kevin Smith saying he would pray for him & made the mistake of reading the comments, many of which go off on Chris for saying he’d pray. I think people misunderstand the backlash against “thoughts & prayers.” (thread)
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 26, 2018
“So I just read Chris Pratt’s tweet to Kevin Smith saying he would pray for him & made the mistake of reading the comments,” he wrote. “Many of which go off on Chris for saying he’d pray. I think people misunderstand the backlash against ‘thoughts & prayers.'”
While Gunn’s faith background is unclear, he followed with several points regarding the role of prayer paired with action that gained a viral response. While admitting he wasn’t here to defnind Chris (as he’s a “big boy”), Gunn refused to remain silent about the nonsensical backlash surrounding the actor’s simple prayer request.
In a series of replies, the director laid out the following supporting arguments:
“2 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.”