Chris Pratt fires back at Ellen Page over claims he attends 'infamously anti-LGBT' church in Los Angeles

'I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone'

Chris Pratt has fired back at Ellen Page after the Juno actor attacked him for attending an allegedly “infamous anti-LGBTQ” church.

The Guardians of the Galaxy star responded on Instagram, writing: “It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which ‘hates a certain group of people’ and is ‘infamously anti-LGBTQ.’ Nothing could be further from the truth.

“I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone.”

Pratt – who frequently attends a Los Angeles branch of Australian megachurch Hillsong Church – said that members of the community helped him through his divorce with fellow actor Anna Faris.

“Despite what the Bible says about divorce my church community was there for me every step of the way, never judging, just gracefully accompanying me on my walk,” Pratt continued.

“They helped me tremendously offering love and support. It is what I have seen them do for others on countless occasions regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender.”

Hillsong has faced controversy since Carl Lentz, who leads its New York branch, said in 2015 that he believes homosexuality is a sin and that a gay member of the church could never hold a leadership position.

That same year, Brian Houston, the church’s global senior pastor, released a statement criticising two male choir members of the church who had gotten married.

The 39-year-old concluded that, while ”faith is important” to him, “no church defines me or my life, and I am not a spokesman for any church or any group of people.”

“My values define who I am,” he added. “We need less hate in this world, not more. I am a man who believes that everyone is entitled to love who they want free from the judgment of their fellow man.

Page initially criticised Pratt on the 8 February, questioning why Pratt does not address the church’s “infamous” views.

She later doubled down on Twitter, writing: “If you are a famous actor and you belong to an organization that hates a certain group of people, don’t be surprised if someone simply wonders why it’s not addressed. Being anti-LGBTQ is wrong, there aren’t two sides. The damage it causes is severe. Full stop.

“If LGBTQ+ people are expressing their pain, their trauma, their experiences... maybe just try and listen? Open your heart, stop being defensive and have compassion. It’s a beautiful and life changing feeling, empathy.”

The 31-year-old, who married Emma Portner in January last year, recently appeared on The Late Show, delivering a “fired up” speech accusing the president and vice president of discriminating against the LGBT community and spending their careers “trying to cause suffering”.

She said: said: “I am fired up tonight, it feels impossible not to feel this way right now, with the president and Vice President Mike Pence, who wishes I couldn’t be married. Let’s just be clear. The Vice President of America wishes I didn’t have the love with my wife. He wanted to ban that in Indiana.”