After the internet voted Chris Pratt “the worst Hollywood Chris,” Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, and Robert Downey Jr jumped in to defend their Avengers co-star.

It all began with a Twitter challenge on Oct. 17 asking which of the 4 main Chris “has to go”: Pratt, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine, and Chris Evans. As a result, Pratt became a Twitter trending topic over the weekend, with many Twitter users citing his supposed political beliefs or a rumor last year that he backed an anti-LGBTQ church as reasons why he “has to go.” (Pratt has refuted the latter charge, claiming that his church “opens their doors to absolutely everyone” and that he is a guy “who believes that everyone is entitled to love who they want free from the judgment of their fellow man.”)

His co-stars have now come to his defense, with Robert Downey Jr. asking his critics to remove their social media accounts.

Pratt was also chastised for missing a Joe Biden campaign fundraiser in Hollywood, which several of his Avengers co-stars attended, prompting rumors that he was pro-Trump.

Ruffalo, who plays The Hulk in the Marvel series, blasted fans for their comments against his Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame co-star following the online debate.

“You all, @prattprattpratt is as solid a man there is,” he tweeted. “I know him personally, and instead of casting aspersions, look at how he lives his life. He is just not overtly political as a rule.”

“This is a distraction,” the actor said, in a veiled reference to the upcoming US presidential election. “Let’s keep our eyes on the prize, friends. We are so close now.”

“He goes to a church that is openly homophobic, so do 98% of Christians, all Catholics, most Muslims & some Jews,” Gunn, who directed Pratt in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, wrote. “I was a Catholic for years, hoping I could have a bigger impact working for gay rights from the inside. I eventually gave up. But it was a valid choice. & I applaud other non-bigots who do the same.”

“What a world…,” commented Downey Jr, who plays Iron Man. “The ‘sinless’ are casting stones at my brother, Chris Pratt… A real Christian who lives by principle, has never demonstrated anything but positivity and gratitude…

“AND he just married into a family that makes space for civil discourse and (just plain fact) INSISTS on service as the highest value. If you take issue with Chris… I’ve got a novel idea.

“Delete your social media accounts, sit with your OWN defects of character, work on THEM, then celebrate your humanness…”

 

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Jeremy Renner, a member of the Avengers, liked Downey’s tweet.

“No matter how hard it gets, stick your chest out, keep your head up and handle it. -Tupac,” tweeted Pratt’s Guardians of the Galaxy co-star Zoe Saldana in defense of Pratt. “You got this @prattprattpratt Your family, friends, colleagues & everyone who’s ever crossed paths with you knows your heart and your worth!”

“Is this really what we need?” said Katherine Schwarzenegger, Pratt’s wife, on Instagram. “There’s so much going on in the world and people struggling in so many ways. Being mean is so yesterday.”

“There’s enough room to love all these guys. Love is what we all need not meanness and bullying. Let’s try that,” she said.

Some fans have pointed out that other Marvel stars, such as Brie Larson, Zendaya, Tessa Thompson, and others, did not receive the same level of support from their castmates when they faced internet harassment.

“All these Marvel dudes were REAL quiet when Zendaya, Tessa Thompson, and Brie Larson were getting mercilessly harassed by dudebros, but Chris Pratt gets RIGHTFULLY called out on his bulls—, and they suddenly have a lot to say,” one fan wrote.

Another added, “Let me get this right. Brie Larson was harassed by men for MONTHS. Zendaya was bullied for being MJ bc she’s biracial, Mackie was bullied for becoming Captain America and the Avengers were SILENT, but Chris Pratt gets called the ‘worst’ Chris and it’s Avengers Assemble?”