Chris Pratt criticised for T-shirt choice
Chris Pratt is facing criticism over a T-shirt he was pictured wearing featuring a controversial symbol.
The Marvel star's top shows the American flag with a coiled snake over the top and a message underneath which reads "Don't Tread On Me."
The writing and snake combo on its own is depicted on the Gadsden flag; a symbol created by Christopher Gadsden, a Charleston-born brigadier general in the Continental Army.
It came to prominence during the Revolutionary War of the US by colonists who wanted independence from Great Britain.
- hunter harris (@hunteryharris) July 15, 2019
Although it is one of the symbols and flags used by the U.S. Men's Soccer Team, Metallica, as well as some libertarian groups, over the years the flag has been adopted by Far Right political groups like the Tea Party, as well as gun-toting supporters of the Second Amendment.
It has therefore become a symbol of more conservative and far right individuals and, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the US, it also is "sometimes interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts."
It's why some people are critical of Pratt wearing a T-shirt featuring the Gadsden flag iconography.
Many have posted their feelings about it on Twitter.
I like him, but all these small things about his politics makes me wonder when he'll say something transphobic, tank his career, and do the full heel-turn into a Fox commentator https://t.co/Emfzd02GmK
- Tim Byrnes (@timbyrnes89) July 16, 2019
ellen page called him out and some of y'all didn't listen now look at this shit https://t.co/hX01z3ifF8
- uss butterscotch | st3 spoilers (@reyvillanelle) July 16, 2019
Unfollowed already. Haven't liked him since Parks & Rec anyhow, and I can easily cancel him in that too. @prattprattpratt hope those bigots pay you a good pay check. Bye girl. https://t.co/2yuS7IZmtu
- Areola Grande (@crisismattie) July 16, 2019
Although Pratt has not come out as a supporter of the Republican party it seems he shares conservative viewpoints on the gun lobby and is a member of the Hillsong Church which has been accused by ex-members, as well as Ellen Page, as being homophobic.
The actor attends the Church with his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger who he married in early June.
Pratt has most recently been promoting the first trailer of Pixar's new animation Onward in which he plays one of two two teenage elf brothers, alongside Tom Holland, who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left in the world.
Pratt is the voice of Barley Lightfoot and Holland his younger brother Ian in the film which hits cinemas March 2020.
- This article first appeared on Yahoo
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