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Film

02nd Oct 2020

Chris Pratt criticised for ‘tone deaf’ promotional Instagram post asking people to vote for his movie

"I’m a big fan of Chris Pratt, but this message ain’t it."

Rich Cooper

Chris Pratt has come under fire for an Instagram post which appeared to be encouraging people to vote in the upcoming US election, but was actually promoting a film he appeared in

The Guardians of the Galaxy star recently made a post on Instagram, appearing to asking his 29 million followers to vote in the upcoming US presidential election.

“With all that’s going on in the world it is more important than ever that you vote,” Pratt wrote.

“Just ask any celebrity. They will tell you. Every day. Several times a day. To vote. But me? I will tell you EXACTLY who to vote for.”

Trump? Biden? Some random third-party candidate? No, Chris Pratt wants you to vote for the Pixar movie Onward at the People’s Choice Awards.

“The heroes before us did not spill their blood only to have their sacrifices wasted by your apathy. The upcoming 2020 People’s Choice Awards is the most consequential vote in the history of mankind times a million infinity.

“Vote for #Onward for family movie of the year. Or else. You WILL die. No hyperbole.”

The joke did not land with some of Pratt’s followers, who felt that the importance of this election was not something to be jovial about.

“It’s easy to mock an election when your liberties aren’t at stake. For some of us, it actually is life and death,” one commenter said. “The world is burning but let’s joke about voting. Ugh,” another added.

“I know you’re trying to be funny but you’re mocking the seriousness of this election by comparing it to an award show. Shameful,” said another.

Not everyone was critical of the movie star, however.

“It’s so sad this movie didn’t get any attention because of covid. It really touched my heart,” said one sympathetic fan, seemingly unfazed by what is generally being seen as a bit of a tasteless plug.

But whether you plan to vote for Trump, Biden or Onward, just be sure which democratic process you’re actually taking part in, because under the current system, you can’t vote in a movie as president.

Not yet.

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Chris Pratt