Chris Pratt Criticised For Tweet To Kevin Smith About Massive Heart Attack

By : On : 01 Mar 2018 19:31
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After acclaimed filmmaker Kevin Smith revealed he had suffered a huge heart attack, many people in the industry rushed to offer words of support.

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Well-wishers included Hollywood leading man Chris Pratt who, despite having never met Kevin, admitted to having ‘loved’ him since the release of cult film Clerks.

I was trying to do a killer standup special this evening but I might’ve gone too far. After the first show, I felt kinda nauseous. I threw up a little but it didn’t seem to help. Then I started sweating buckets and my chest felt heavy. Turns out I had a massive heart attack. The Doctor who saved my life at the #glendale hospital told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (also known as “the Widow-Maker” because when it goes, you’re a goner). If I hadn’t canceled the second show to go to the hospital, the Doc said I would’ve died tonight. For now, I’m still above ground! But this is what I learned about myself during this crisis: death was always the thing I was most terrified of in life. When the time came, I never imagined I’d ever be able to die with dignity – I assumed I’d die screaming, like my Dad (who lost his life to a massive heart attack). But even as they cut into my groin to slip a stent into the lethal Widow-Maker, I was filled with a sense of calm. I’ve had a great life: loved by parents who raised me to become the individual I am. I’ve had a weird, wonderful career in all sorts of media, amazing friends, the best wife in the world and an incredible daughter who made me a Dad. But as I stared into the infinite, I realized I was relatively content. Yes, I’d miss life as it moved on without me – and I was bummed we weren’t gonna get to make #jayandsilentbobreboot before I shuffled loose the mortal coil. But generally speaking, I was okay with the end, if this was gonna be it. I’ve gotten to do so many cool things and I’ve had so many adventures – how could I be shitty about finally paying the tab. But the good folks at the Glendale hospital had other plans and the expertise to mend me. Total strangers saved my life tonight (as well as my friends @jordanmonsanto & @iamemilydawn, who called the ambulance). This is all a part of my mythology now and I’m sure I’ll be facing some lifestyle changes (maybe it’s time to go Vegan). But the point of this post is to tell you that I faced my greatest fear tonight… and it wasn’t as bad as I’ve always imagined it’d be. I don’t want my life to end but if it ends, I can’t complain. It was such a gift. #KevinSmith

A post shared by Kevin Smith (@thatkevinsmith) on

Taking to Twitter following the news of Kevin’s heart attack, the 38-year-old Guardians of the Galaxy star tweeted the following message alongside a praying hands emoji:

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Kevin we don’t know each other too good but I have loved you since Clerks and I’m praying my ass off for you cause I believe in the healing power of prayer.

Can you please pray with me people!?

However, many people were none too happy with Chris’s call to prayer; and a heated debate over religion sprung up among fans.

Many of those criticising Chris’s tweet drew comparisons with the hollow statements which are all too often given by politicians in the aftermath of a shooting.

This is naturally a difficult topic so soon after the devastating school shooting in Florida.

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One person retorted:

No. I believe in the healing power of a doctor’s hands. If prayers worked, there wouldn’t be anymore school shootings because all anyone ever does about those is pray.

Another person scoffed:

Too bad God doesn’t love all the children that die of diseases every day all around the world ..I wonder how god picks n chooses who he’s gonna love that day.

If god knows everything that will ever happen, doesn’t he already know who will live or die? Whats the point of praying?

Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn rushed to Chris’s defence after seeing the backlash, making the following statement:

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So I just read Chris Pratt’s tweet to Kevin Smith saying he would pray for him & made the mistake of reading the comments, many of which go off on Chris for saying he’d pray. I think people misunderstand the backlash against ‘thoughts & prayers.’

There is nothing wrong with sending someone positive thoughts & prayers. But when this is coupled with inaction when action will benefit the situation, it’s empty.

If you’re offering Parkland shooting survivors prayers, but are unwilling to deal with the problems of gun violence in this country in a practical way, those prayers are empty.

James continued:

And if you’re going to offer prayers to the folks suffering in Puerto Rico, you might consider adding a link for a donation or calling on your representatives to take action, in addition to those prayers. Prayers alone will not change the world.

But no one expects Chris Pratt to shoulder doctors out of the way and perform heart surgery on Kevin Smith. Nor does Kevin need Chris to pay his medical bills. So I think his prayers are appreciated, and about all he can do.

I’m not tweeting this to defend Chris – he’s a big boy and can take care of himself. But for me, personally, prayer and meditation are great boons to my life and help me navigate my way through this world, and I don’t want to dissuade others who find those things useful.

Interestingly, back in 2014 Kevin spoke about his belief in a higher being with the BBC, and so Chris’s words may have meant more to him than critics may think.

Credits

BBC

  1. BBC

    No.16: Kevin Smith