Posted on 04/24/2017 1:08:44 PM PDT by drewh
Actor Chris Pratt, one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars, has apologized for saying his industry does not represent “the average, blue-collar American.” In an interview with Men’s Fitness, the Parks and Recreation alum decried the disparity of roles that “resonate” with him.
“I don’t see personal stories that necessarily resonate with me, because they’re not my stories,” Pratt told the outlet. “I think there’s room for me to tell mine — and probably an audience that would be hungry for them. The voice of the average, blue-collar American isn’t necessarily represented in Hollywood.”
It did not take long before social media users pounced on Pratt’s comments, some suggesting that several films, including several Academy Award-nominated movies, featured blue-collar characters and storylines:
Some left-wing blogs also piled on:
Jezebel: “Chris Pratt Is Kind of a Ding-Dong”
Marie Claire:
While it’s nice that Chris wants to see more people like himself on-screen, he is a straight, white male. And Hollywood has an *actual* diversity problem at the moment—both in terms of race and gender. So, actually, maybe it’s time for there to be less stories like Chris Pratt’s, and more stories about, oh, you know, literally any other marginalized community in this country.
The Mary Sue: “I Miss Not Knowing What Chris Pratt Thinks About Things”
Pratt hopped on Twitter on Friday and walked his blue-collar comments all the way back.
“That was actually a pretty stupid thing to say,” the Virginia, Minnesota, native wrote to his four million followers. “I’ll own that. There’s a ton of movies about blue collar America”:
Pratt, who stars in blockbuster franchise films, including Universal’s Jurassic World and Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Friday
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
The emasculation of the American White Male continues.
Death to those that call for my demise!
Chris had a momentary lapse of truth.
Then promptly back-tracked.
Hollywood does indeed have plenty of movies about blue-collar people, mostly very derogatory. They don’t tell our story, they tell us what they think of us. . .and they don’t think much of us. Dwindling ticket sales indicate we don’t think much of them either ;)
Blue-Collar Actors ?
Pratt had the bad sense to tell people how he really feels in Hollywood, which is detrimental to his ability to get cast....you only do that when you are established like Gibson, Stallone, Willis and Eastwood
He’s going to be okay. Guardians 2 will be huge and there have been rumors about him being the next Indy. Since Harrison Ford is apparently doing another one, that’s probably just a rumor, though.
Sheesh a backbone made of jello.
Chris Pratt is a moron. Good thing he found a job reciting other people’s words, because his own aren’t worth squat.
I would greenlight him as young Indiana Jones. Harrison Ford is way too old now..
At least he’s a proud Christian in Hollywood. That’s better than 98% of his peers.
Isn't the Walk of Fame for "stars" who you actually knew who they were?...
Chris Pratt is wrong, but the reasons why he's wrong aren't what people might expect.
First of all, Robert Redford (the old radical chic 60s guy) and his Sundance festival have generated dozens of low-key blue collar heartland dramas (which isn't something one might have expected of Redford). You could make the case that Hollywood makes more big ticket flicks about America's ethnic minorities, but at a lower level of production cost, there may be at least as many dramas about rural, often blue collar whites.
Secondly, there's comedy. From Jackie Gleason to Tim Allen, Roseanne Barr, Jeff Foxworthy etc, blue collar comedies have been a staple of US television. They aren't always friendly or supportive of the group they depict, but that's true of other forms of comedy as well.
Third, there are an awful lot of rural or blue collar crime dramas. Again, it may not be what you like and it may make poor whites look stupid or depraved, but the movies are out there, usually set in the Southwest.
It's never who you want that puts you on the map. People in Queens may not love Fran Drescher or Kevin James, but they did at least put the name of the borough on national television. And why are there so many movies about Boston? Two words: Whitey Bulger.
He told the truth. If they do something “blue collar” its a dysfunctionally idiotic person, usually on meth, a racist, a bigot, on a compound, occasionally murdering someone, etc.
There is nothing “blue collar” on TV that is decent, tolerable, and showing someone you wouldn’t mind having for a neighbor.
+1
Very articulately and succinclty put!
“Third, there are an awful lot of rural or blue collar crime dramas. Again, it may not be what you like and it may make poor whites look stupid or depraved, but the movies are out there, usually set in the Southwest.”
Yeah, there are lots of blue collar shows. As long as you define blue collar as some rough lawman encountering Raylene the ignorant but cunning meth addict who has murdered her husband. Or a band of moronic bikers in some dystopian existence in the desert.
Pratt was right.
I smell war brewing
Who'd bother to watch them?
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