Anthony Mackie Clarifies His 'Captain America' Comments
by EG
In trying to make his Captain America: Brave New World appealing to an international audience, Anthony Mackie has run afoul part of his audience back home. In an interview in Rome, Mackie suggested that the United States doesn't have a monopoly on the admirable qualities of his superhero character, but that sentiment didn't sit well among some social media commentators back in America. The backlash has prompted Mackie to clarify what he meant. Read on for details.
Via Variety.
Anthony Mackie took to Instagram Tuesday to clarify his viral comment about what Captain America represents.
“Let me be clear about this, I’m a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like [Captain America] is the honor of a lifetime,” Mackie wrote on his Instagram Story. “I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country. [Captain America] has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to.”
Over the past 24 hours, Mackie drew criticism for comments made during an onstage interview in Rome. While promoting his new film “Captain America: Brave New World,” Mackie said that Cap “represents a lot of different things,” but “the term ‘America'” is not one of them.
“For me, Captain America represents a lot of different things and I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations,” Mackie said “It’s about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable.”
“Brave New World,” which hits theaters Feb. 14, is the first Captain America film since Mackie took over for Chris Evans as the star-spangled superhero. In 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” Steve Rogers, the original first Avenger, rapidly ages himself out of crime-fighting shape and passes the shield to Mackie’s Sam Wilson.
Get the rest of the story at Variety.