Chris Pratt’s been many things over the years—Andy Dwyer, Star-Lord, a Hollywood lightning rod—but in a 2019 appearance with Stephen Colbert, he took on an unexpected role: Daniel Fast evangelist. In the clip, which has resurfaced in time for Lent, Pratt explains the 21-day diet of “no meat, no sugar and no alcohol” that he did through his church, inspired by the biblical book of Daniel.
Pratt described the experience as “actually amazing,” which, considering he had just spent three weeks without processed sugar or steak, is impressive. Colbert, never one to let a biblical deep cut slide, joked that Daniel’s real challenge wasn’t cutting carbs—it was surviving a literal den of lions. Pratt joked back, saying, “Lion fighting is sick cardio.”
But the interview took a surprisingly thoughtful turn when Colbert asked whether Pratt ever felt like he was in his own “lion’s den” as a celebrity under constant scrutiny. Pratt admitted it does feel cagey at times, but a quote he heard in church keeps him moving forward: “If the spotlight that’s shining on you is brighter than the light that comes from within you, it will kill you.”
The line, which he heard from Christine Caine, is a timely reminder not just for Hollywood stars but for anyone feeling the pressure to perform.
Rewatching the interview six years later, it’s clear that Pratt was onto something. Whether or not you’re fasting for Lent, there’s a lesson in here about what we consume—whether it’s food, attention or the internet’s never-ending discourse about the Hollywood Chris rankings.
Maybe the real Daniel Fast in 2025 is putting down our phones for 21 days. Lion fighting still optional.
