In a surprising about-face from his normally positive public reception, there seems to be mounting criticism over Chris Pratt’s controversial American flag shirt. The Jurassic World star was spotted out-and-about earlier this week with new wife Katherine Schwarzenegger wearing an at-first-glance patriotic tee. But, superimposed on the shirt’s stars and stripes is a rattlesnake with the phrase “Don’t Tread on Me” — and that design element has some labeling him a “racist” and accusing him of aligning with white supremacist values. As with most things on the internet, though, it’s a complex conversation.
The coiled rattlesnake with the “Don’t Tread on Me” message is the iconography associated with the Gadsden flag, created by Continental Army Brig. Gen. Christopher Gadsden. While the flag’s original purpose wasn’t rooted in white supremacy, it has been adopted by some white supremacists and far-right groups in recent years (in some of these instances, swastikas have even been added to the design). In 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that the flag could be viewed as racial harassment in the workplace, explaining it can sometimes be “interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts.”
So, when Pratt was spotted wearing a shirt bearing the Gadsden design, some people quickly drew a parallel between Pratt’s wardrobe choice and the less positive associations of the flag.
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
However, others jumped to Pratt’s defense, pointing out that the flag’s historical meaning has nothing to do with its now-negative connections.
Chris @prattprattpratt is criticized as a white supremacist for *checks notes* wearing a centuries-old symbol of freedom https://t.co/cliswBDh6s
— Shoshana Weissmann, Sloth Committee Chair 🦥 (@senatorshoshana) July 17, 2019
It’s almost like people don’t know nor appreciate American Revolution history.
It’s a cool shirt and Chris Pratt is a cool guy for knowing his history enough to buy and wear it. https://t.co/TpAMqqk5N7
— Rebecca Johnson (@derbykid) July 17, 2019
Chris Pratt isn't wearing a white supremacist shirt. That symbol has been used since the revolution. The snake had 13 parts and together they were strong, but apart they were worthless. It was to gather support for independence from Britain, not white supremacy#ChrisPratt
— Ben 🏳️🌈 (@ben_is_upset) July 16, 2019
Per USFlag.org, the Gadsden flag was born from “a period of intense but controlled individualism — when self-directing responsible individuals, again and again, decided for themselves what they should do, and did it, without needing anyone else to give them an assignment or supervise them in carrying it out.” Later adaptations of the flag, such as the 1st Navy Jack, were also considered to be “a striking indication of the colonists’ courage and fierce desire for independence.”
While the flag has been co-opted by far-right groups and organizations that spread hatred and bias, it is still more categorically viewed for its historical context. As such, as Yahoo cites, it is one of the flags used by the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team, the heavy metal band Metallica and other decidedly non-racist groups.
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