There’s never been a more fraught time to be a celebrity promoting a new project—not only does every little thing you say get picked up and blasted around the internet, but now more than ever there’s a fear of saying the “wrong” thing (even if it’s not wrong, actually). The latest star in the crosshairs is Anthony Mackie, who has now backtracked on comments he made recently ahead of his headlining turn in next month’s Captain America: Brave New World.
The kerfluffle began when Mackie, promoting Brave New World in Rome, said in an on-stage interview that “Captain America represents a lot of different things and I don’t think the term, you know, ‘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.”
He then shifted into saying making Brave New World was a dream come true and that the movie helped invigorate his excitement for acting. After a video of Mackie’s remarks hit social media (you can watch it here), people immediately zeroed in on his “America” statement, because—well, these are some politically interesting times we live in, and it can be interesting to try and talk about what’s happening in the United States, particularly at an event being held in a different country.
As Variety, Forbes, and other sources noted, after his on-stage answer went viral, Mackie took to his own social media to clarify his meaning. Here’s a screenshot of his Instagram stories post, which reads: “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.”
Whether there was behind-the-scenes pressure for Mackie to massage his message, or the actor simply felt he was being misinterpreted by online reactions to it, we don’t know. And his Instagram post, which is not styled as an apology, conveys that he respects the American military as well as the legacy being upheld by his character, Sam Wilson, who he’s bringing to the big screen for the first time as Captain America, after playing the early days of Sam taking on the mantle in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
But his original statement wasn’t wrong, either—after all, you can still be a proud American and realize that “America” isn’t always synonymous with “honor, dignity, and integrity.” As Forbes pointed out, the previous Captain America, Chris Evans, as well as the Captain America comics themselves, have made not-dissimilar observations in the past. The Captain America comics have long had a history of having the character wrestle with their symbolism, and the inherent belief in America’s ideals even as they rankle at the state itself. After all, Steve Rogers famously quit being Captain America under a thinly veiled allusion to the Nixon administration! It’s an uncomfortable feeling, but it’s a legitimate one, especially in 2025—and even if the person feeling that way happens to be the star of a big-budget blockbuster centered around a patriotic superhero.
Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters February 14.
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