Actor Chris Pratt was the subject of sharp criticism online Tuesday when he posted a photo of himself at the gym with a plastic water bottle.
The Guardians of the Galaxy actor shared the snap on Instagram, along with a promotion for his upcoming partnership with Amazon to sell athletic gear. “You’re probably wondering why I’m standing here, low key flexing, gazing into the distance,” he wrote. “Well, turns out I’m teaming up with @amazon to show you guys everything I use for my workouts, keeping active, and all that fun stuff to get you prepped for 2020.”
Fellow superhero actor Jason Mamoa responded with a sharp jab at Pratt’s choice of water bottle. “Bro i love u but wtf on the water bottle,” the Aquaman actor said. “No single use plastic. come on.”
Mamoa’s critique snowballed into many other people online echoing his sentiment and chastising Pratt for using the water bottle. Pratt offered a mea culpa a short time later, saying, “Aquaman! You’re completely right. Dammit,” he said in a reply. “I always carry my big gallon size reusable water jug with me too. I even had it that day!!! Love you too buddy,” he added. “My bad. I don’t want your home of Atlantis covered in plastic. Hear that kids? Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.”
After noticing the backlash his comment had caused, Mamoa offered his own apology. “BRO you know my children and I are madly in love with you and I love everything you do. I’m sorry this was received so badly today I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he wrote along with a photo of himself with Pratt and his children. “I’m just very passionate about this single use plastic epidemic. the plastic water bottles have to stop i hope u make a reusable water bottle for amazon so we all can purchase.”
Many others online were quick to point out Mamoa’s own past use of single-use plastic water bottles. “Jason Mamoa to Chris Pratt: How dare you use a plastic water bottle! They’re evil!!” one user wrote with two photos of the actor drinking out of plastic water bottles.
Jason Mamoa to Chris Pratt: How dare you use a plastic water bottle! They’re evil!!
Also Jason Mamoa: pic.twitter.com/NdYJPYoMn9
— Morgan ? (@SwiftieStyle22) December 4, 2019
Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio also weighed in on the controversy with a memory of his own headline-grabbing experience with a plastic water bottle. “I too was caught with a single use plastic water bottle a few years ago and the media wouldn’t stop talking about it either,” Rubio said, referencing a 2013 speech in which he paused for an awkward water break. Trump later mocked Rubio for the gaffe while campaigning for president.
I too was caught with a single use plastic water bottle a few years ago and the media wouldn’t stop talking about it either.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 4, 2019
