Hollywood star calls for God’s grace as online discourse over conservative activist’s killing intensifies
The actor Chris Pratt has shared a video of himself praying online, following the shooting of Charlie Kirk and the online discourse and backlash that has ensued.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed as he spoke during a campus event at Utah Valley University on September 10. The right-wing activist was the founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth movement.
Why It Matters
Kirk’s assassination comes amid fears of increasing political violence in the United States and highlights divisions gripping the country, where politics is increasingly polarised.
There has been an outpouring of grief for Kirk from his supporters, and many high-profile Democrats have responded with sympathy and messages condemning political violence in any form. However, some social media posts and videos have celebrated the killing, while others have criticised Kirk and his beliefs, which have in turn triggered a backlash.
The incident has intensified debates about political discourse and violence, with reports that at least 15 to 33 people have been either fired or suspended from their jobs due to comments made about Kirk online, according to various media outlets.
What To Know
In a video posted on X on September 14, Pratt invited viewers to pray. “Hey guys, just stop real quick and pray with me,” he said in the video. He continues to pray, before saying: “Now, you can continue scrolling, or you can turn your phone off and go outside. Might I suggest the latter.”
The Guardians of the Galaxy star does not explicitly mention Kirk in this clip, but many social media users replied to his post with images of the evangelical Christian.
Pratt’s video followed a post he shared after Kirk’s death, in which he wrote, “Praying for Charlie Kirk right now, for his wife and young children, for our country. We need God’s grace. God help us.”
The actor’s post and encouragement for people to pray comes amid bitter polarisation online and in the United States, and has been met with a largely positive response.
Celebrity Reactions Across Political Divide
Pratt, who is one of the few conservative voices in Hollywood, was among the first celebrities to publicly react to the tragedy. His initial response came shortly after the shooting, expressing concern for Kirk’s wife Erika and their two young children.
Other celebrities from across the political spectrum have also spoken out. Jimmy Kimmel, one of Hollywood’s most vocal opponents of Donald Trump, urged his followers to set aside their political differences amid the senseless shooting.
“Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?” Kimmel wrote on Instagram. “On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger lent his voice to the matter on X, stating: “My heart is with Charlie Kirk’s family, and with the United States. Politics has become a disease in this country, and it’s deadly. But don’t listen to the pessimists who say there is no cure. There is a cure. It is inside of us. We must find our better angels and walk back from the extremes.”
Political Leaders Respond
President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social with a heartfelt tribute: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
Former President Barack Obama wrote: “We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.
Vice President Kamala Harris shared that she and her husband Doug Emhoff were “deeply disturbed” by the fatal shooting, stating: “Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence.”
The Shooting Incident
Kirk was approximately 20 minutes into a presentation at Utah Valley University when a suspect fired a gunshot from a building about 200 yards away, according to a university spokesperson. The political activist was taken to a hospital shortly after but was pronounced dead later that day.
The event, part of Turning Point USA’s “American Comeback Tour,” was expected to include a “prove me wrong” table format, where Kirk would engage with students on controversial topics. More than 3,000 people were estimated to be at the event.
Police arrested 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson on Friday in connection with Kirk’s death, recovering bullet casings inscribed with anti-fascist messages and a firearm near the scene. Utah Governor Spencer Cox called the fatal shooting a “political assassination.
Online Discourse and Division
The assassination has exposed deep divisions in American society, with social media becoming a battleground for competing narratives. While many called for thoughts and prayers, others used the tragedy to advance political arguments.
Some controversial posts that gained millions of views included comparisons to other political violence incidents and debates about the consistency of reactions across party lines. The intense online discourse led to real-world consequences, with multiple people losing their jobs over comments made about Kirk’s death.
Political analyst Matthew Dowd was fired from MSNBC after saying on air that Kirk had “been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures” who was “constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech.
Pratt’s Call for Spiritual Reflection
Pratt’s prayer video and his suggestion that people “turn your phone off and go outside” appears to be a direct response to the toxic online environment that has emerged following Kirk’s assassination.
The actor, known for his Christian faith, has positioned himself as calling for a spiritual response to the tragedy rather than engaging in the political blame game that has dominated much of the discourse.
His approach stands in contrast to more partisan reactions, with some on the right blaming “radical left” elements and some on the left pointing to America’s gun violence problem as the root cause.
As tensions remain high and the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of Kirk’s death and the broader issue of political violence, Pratt’s call for prayer and disconnection from social media represents one response to a tragedy that has further exposed America’s deep political and cultural divisions.
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