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Did Anthony Mackie make a major flub? The actor responds to the outcry surrounding his viral statements while promoting Captain America: Brave New World.
With Captain America: Brave New World releasing in just over two weeks, promotion for the film has kicked into high gear. This includes new posters, new tv spots, and new interviews with stars like Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford. The pressure is on for the movie, with the online environment treating Mackie’s freshman outing as the Sentinel of Liberty with a hefty amount of skepticism and worry following a number of controversial decisions.
Yet even at the finish line, it seems Captain America: Brave New World can’t stay away from controversy. While promoting the upcoming film in Italy, Anthony Mackie spoke on what he believes it means to be Captain America. When speaking of the qualities that make up the core of the hero, Mackie posited that the term “America” should be a part of that list, revealing that there are deeper qualities that represent what the shield is meant to mean.
“Captain America represents a lot of different things, and I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations. It’s about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable.”
Anthony Mackie Responds To The Backlash
This comment stirred up quite a bit of controversy. So much so that, even in spite of all of the controversial topics surrounding the film, Anthony Mackie felt compelled to respond to the clip on his personal social media. The actor clarified on his Instagram story that he is proud to be an American, while also stating that the character of Captain America has qualities that can apply to and inspire people even beyond the national borders of the United States.
“Let me be clear about this. I’m a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like CAP is the honor of a lifetime. I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country. CAP has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to.”
It’s important to note that Anthony Mackie’s original statement isn’t far from how others have spoken about Captain America. Chris Evans himself stated that he didn’t want to get “too lost” in the America side of things in an interview with CBR, saying the hero stands for more than America. This is a sentiment directly expressed by the character multiple times across decades of comics. Though given the current wave of controversy surrounding Captain America: Brave New World, it’s almost impossible to stop the momentum of those who have already made up their minds.
Captain America: Brave New World is currently slated to hit theaters on February 14, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
