It's Mother's Day in 2025, and Chris Pratt is once again at the center of attention—not for what he posted, but rather for what (or whom) he conspicuously omitted. On Sunday, Pratt shared a heartfelt tribute to his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, on Instagram, hailing her as a "Chief" who manages their three young children with the dexterity of a seasoned pro. "Our kids have truly hit the jackpot with you, and I have too," he penned. "Happy Mother's Day, Chief!" Charming, isn't it? Yet, amidst the sweetness, many fans couldn't overlook the glaring absence of Anna Faris, Pratt's ex-wife and the mother of his eldest child, 12-year-old Jack.
The 45-year-old Marvel star was married to Faris from 2009 to 2018. Despite their public commitment to co-parenting Jack, that vital aspect of his parenting journey seemingly failed to make the cut this year—or the years preceding it. "Where's the tribute to the mother of your firstborn???" queried one follower. Another simply added, "Anna Faris is a mother too."
This isn't the first time Pratt's Mother's Day posts have stirred controversy. In 2024, he celebrated "all the mamas out there" and praised his wife for being a mother to their daughters and a "stepmom to Jack." However, Faris remained unmentioned once again.
To some, this might seem inconsequential. "People are just being weird by expecting Chris to pay tribute to his ex-wife," one commenter retaliated this year. "Get a life!!!" Indeed, no one anticipates him penning poetry about his past relationship. But when you're a public figure with a history of glossing over your first family, the silence speaks volumes.
This pattern has fans revisiting past scandals, such as the incident in 2021 when Pratt was accused of subtly shading Faris after thanking Schwarzenegger for giving him a "beautiful, healthy daughter." The backlash was swift, especially considering Jack was born seven weeks premature in 2012 and faced severe health challenges. Pratt later told Men's Health that he "cried" over the criticism, deeming it "f***ed up" that people could twist his words in a manner his son might stumble upon one day.
This raises the question: If you're deeply concerned about your son encountering hurtful commentary online, wouldn't acknowledging his mom—the one who raised him, fought for him, and helped him navigate those critical NICU days—make a world of difference?
Especially considering Pratt has been open about how Jack's birth transformed his faith. Just a few months ago, he told The Christian Post that he "prayed hard to God" during Jack's premature delivery, and that experience "cemented" his spirituality. "He really saved my son," he said. It's a poignant sentiment, underscoring the profound significance of that chapter in his life. A chapter he seems increasingly hesitant to include in public tributes.
On her part, Faris has maintained a dignified demeanor, although she's dropped hints over the years about what truly transpired behind closed doors. On her Unqualified podcast, she's spoken about the emotional isolation in their marriage and how they "protected the imagery" of a perfect Hollywood couple at the expense of their truth. She's also reflected on the difficulty of ignoring her instincts and proceeding with a wedding she harbored doubts about.
Despite this, she's never publicly bashed Pratt. Instead, she's continued to co-parent Jack with him, placing their son's wellbeing at the forefront. No one denies that co-parenting with an ex is a challenging endeavor. And navigating public shout-outs after a divorce is undoubtedly more intricate than it may appear to the outside observer. But when one is willing to make grand declarations about motherhood, and one of their children has another mom who helped them survive and thrive, perhaps it's time to find a way to incorporate that complexity.
