Actor Chris Hemsworth criticised for telling daughter who envies her brothers that 'you can be whatever you want to be'

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, seen here taking a selfie with the Sydney Opera House in the background. (Instagram/Chris Hemsworth)

"The Huntsman: Winter's War" star Chris Hemsworth is all about promoting gender equality. However, the Australian actor might have gone too far when he told his 4-year-old daughter India Rose who envies her twin brothers that "you can be whatever you want to be."

It all started when India Rose started complaining about the difference of her body to that of her 2-year-old twin brothers. "My daughter's kind of envious of my [2-year-old twin] boys at the moment," Hemsworth said when he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "She came to me the other day and said, 'Papa, I want one of those things that Sasha and Tristan have... the things in between their legs."

Hemsworth was caught off guard by his daughter's statement, and he even tried reasoning with her that "girls have breasts." However, India Rose was adamant and told her father, "I don't want breasts! I really want one... I want a penis!"

Instead of explaining to his daughter the differences between a boy and girl's bodies, Hemsworth simply told his daughter, "You know what? You can be whatever you want to be."

Christian writer Claire Chretien was outraged by the advice Hemsworth gave his daughter, saying that it is absolutely wrong to mislead a child about her gender identity since no amount of surgery and hormone treatments can turn her into a boy.

"I wish Hemsworth could read the heartbreaking stories of people who experience sex change regret," she writes in an article for Life Site News. "Telling children untruths about sexuality, like the lie that they can change something so fundamental to who they are as human beings, is a grave disservice to them. I pray that Hemsworth will eventually teach his children the truth about their sexuality: that their bodies' designs speak to their beautiful purpose."

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
What should Christians make of Tommy Robinson?
What should Christians make of Tommy Robinson?

In demanding that the likes of Robinson be banned from the Oxford Union, the clergy are in effect setting their own limit on freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Christian woman persecuted by Iranian regime sentenced to 9 years in prison
Christian woman persecuted by Iranian regime sentenced to 9 years in prison

A Christian convert in Iran has been sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison on trumped-up charges linked to state security and anti-government activity.

John Lennox fears AI is making us lazy
John Lennox fears AI is making us lazy

Christian media leaders heard calls for courage, authenticity and discernment at the recent Revive 2026 conference.

Does the Church of England need to re-think its messaging?
Does the Church of England need to re-think its messaging?

If you look at the Church of England’s communications all that it ever seems to highlight is the good works that Christians do to improve the temporal well-being of their neighbours. It is right to highlight these things, but they are not the primary reason for the Church’s existence.