Family, Politics, and Hollywood: Chris Pratt Defends RFK Jr. with a Simple “I Love Him”
In the ever-blurring lines between Hollywood, politics, and family dynasties, a new and fascinating chapter has just been written. Chris Pratt, the star of blockbuster franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, has stepped into the political fray with a public comment defending his wife’s cousin, the controversial independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The moment, a seemingly simple Instagram comment, has ignited a firestorm of discussion about loyalty, celebrity endorsements, and the complicated nature of America’s most famous political family.
What Happened?
The exchange took place in the comments section of a post by entrepreneur and media personality Patrick Bet-David, who was promoting a recent interview with RFK Jr. In the post, Bet-David praised Kennedy as a “class act” and highlighted their discussion on his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda.
Amid the thousands of comments, one from a verified account stood out. It was Chris Pratt, who wrote:
“He’s a good man. I love him. God bless him.”
Simple, direct, and personal. It wasn’t a lengthy political treatise or a formal endorsement, but in the world of celebrity-watchers and political pundits, it was a bombshell.
The Context: A Candidate of Controversy
To understand why Pratt’s comment is so significant, one has to understand the figure at its center. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, is running a campaign that has both captivated a segment of the electorate and drawn intense criticism.
His platform, which he dubs “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA), focuses on issues like chronic disease, environmental toxins, and corporate influence in government agencies. However, he is most widely known for his long-standing and vocal criticism of vaccines. He has promoted views linking vaccines to autism—a claim that has been overwhelmingly debunked by the global scientific and medical communities.
This stance has made him a deeply polarizing figure, not just in the national political arena, but within his own family. Several of his siblings have publicly and forcefully condemned his campaign and his views on public health, calling them “dangerous” and “profoundly sad.”
The Kennedy-Schwarzenegger-Pratt Connection
This is where Chris Pratt enters the picture. Pratt is married to Katherine Schwarzenegger, whose mother is journalist and author Maria Shriver. Maria Shriver’s mother was Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. This makes Maria Shriver and RFK Jr. first cousins.
So, when Pratt defends RFK Jr., he isn’t just weighing in on a random politician; he’s speaking about a member of his extended family—his wife’s cousin.
This family tie makes his comment both more understandable and more complicated. On one hand, it can be seen as a simple expression of familial love, a man standing up for someone he knows personally, separate from the political noise. On the other, in an era where every public utterance is scrutinized, a celebrity of Pratt’s stature cannot simply “love” a presidential candidate without it being interpreted as a political signal.
A Rare Political Statement from Pratt
Chris Pratt has a unique position in Hollywood. While often perceived by the public as leaning more conservative than many of his peers, largely due to his open Christian faith and love of traditionally “red-state” hobbies like hunting, he has historically avoided overt political endorsements. He has walked a careful line, attempting to remain an everyman blockbuster star who can appeal to audiences of all political stripes.
This comment, therefore, feels like a departure. It places him firmly in a controversial conversation. It aligns him, at least personally, with a candidate who many in the mainstream—including members of the Kennedy family—have disavowed.
What Does It All Mean?
Pratt’s three short sentences raise more questions than they answer:
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Is it a full-throated political endorsement? Unlikely. It reads more like a personal defense of a man’s character.
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Is it a statement of family loyalty above all else? This seems plausible. In a family as large and complex as the Kennedys, differing opinions are inevitable, and loyalty can be a powerful force.
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Does it signal a shift in Pratt’s public-facing persona? Perhaps. It shows a willingness to engage on a topic he knows will be divisive, suggesting he’s less concerned with universal approval than he may have been in the past.
Ultimately, the incident serves as a perfect microcosm of our current cultural moment. It’s a mix of celebrity influence, political polarization, and the age-old tension between public platforms and private relationships. For now, Chris Pratt has made his feelings clear: regardless of the politics and the controversy, for him, it’s about family. And he loves him.
