Star-Lord actor Chris Pratt has been targeted by numerous angry comments for wearing a t-shirt with the Gadsden flag.
Created by Brigadier General in the Continental Army Christopher Gadsden, it became a symbol during the Revolutionary War between the American colonials and the British Empire.
However, in recent years the coiled snake on the flag, along with the message, has become associated with right-wing and conservative groups, including the Tea Party and the pro-gun movement Yahoo News suggests. The media outlet cites the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which notes that the flag is “sometimes interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts”.
Although the symbol has also been adopted by the US Men’s Soccer Team and the rock band Metallica, among others, many netizens interpreted the Marvel star’s choice as unequivocally racist and trashed Pratt online, saying that by wearing it he was supporting bigotry.
However, many stood up for him, noting that the Gadsden flag is a symbol of freedom, first of all.
https://twitter.com/senatorshoshana/status/115146361332194508
The actor, known to be a devout Christian, became the centre of a similar controversy earlier this year after he praised the church that he attends. Another celebrity, however, Ellen Page, called Pratt’s megachurch, Hillsong, which he, along with Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin, Kendall Jenner, and Selena Gomez attend, “infamously anti-LGBTQ”.
Ellen apparently referred to earlier scandalous allegations about its founder molesting children, the church referring people to ex-gay conversion therapy and statements that they consider same-sex relationships to be sinful. Her verbal assault left commenters split, with some taking her side and others slamming the “religion police in Hollywood” for harassing people.