Anthony Mackie is in damage control mode after his Captain America comments had Marvel fans clutching their vibranium shields in distress.
The 46-year-old Brave New World star, who is now the proud owner of Steve Rogers’ patriotic frisbee, made some eyebrow-raising remarks during his European press tour. On Monday, in Rome, he said something that had some people gasping, some nodding, and others just confusedly googling, “Wait, who’s Captain America now?”
While passionately discussing the iconic superhero, Anthony declared:
“To me, 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.”
Now, if you read that and thought, “Hmm, that sounds like a reasonable take on heroism,” congratulations! You’re not on Twitter. Because the internet promptly EXPLODED.
By the next day, Mackie found himself sitting next to his Brave New World co-star Danny Ramirez in Madrid, possibly wondering how his simple speech had turned into an international debate. So, he did what every celebrity does when the internet turns on them—he took to Instagram Stories to clarify things before Marvel fans started showing up at his house dressed like the Winter Soldier.
Mackie’s social media PSA went like this:
“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.”
Translation: Please don’t cancel me, I love America, and I swear I’m not turning Cap into an international spy thriller about global diplomacy.
Whether the clarification will put out the flames of internet outrage remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Mackie is locked in as Captain America, and Captain America: Brave New World will still be hitting theaters on February 14—so bring your love for superheroes and possibly a debate team.
