Anthony Mackie Clarifies Captain America Comments Amid Backlash

ROME, Italy — Anthony Mackie, star of the upcoming Marvel film “Captain America: Brave New World,” has clarified his recent comments about the iconic superhero after facing backlash for suggesting that the term “America” should not be central to the character’s representation.

On Tuesday, Mackie took to Instagram Stories to address the controversy, stating, “Let me be clear about this, I’m a proud American. Taking on the shield of a hero like CAP is the honor of a lifetime.” He added, “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.”

The statement followed remarks Mackie made during a promotional event in Rome for the film, where he said, “To me, Captain America represents a lot of different things, and I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations.” He emphasized that the character embodies traits like honor, dignity, integrity, and dependability.

Mackie’s comments, initially reported by Italian film news site Cinematographe.it, sparked criticism online, prompting the actor to clarify his stance. He explained that his portrayal of Captain America is about capturing a universal sense of heroism and wonder, rather than being tied to national identity.

“This is kind of like an aspect of a dream coming true,” Mackie said during the event. “All of us as actors, I believe, want to get back to that day before someone told you ‘no.’ When you look out your door and see a 5-year-old kid with a stick slaying dragons to save the princess in the tower, that kid really believes there are dragons out there.”

“Brave New World” marks Mackie’s first solo outing as Captain America in a feature film, following his appearances in “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) and the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (2021). The film, set to release on February 14, also stars Harrison Ford, who takes over the role of President Thaddeus Ross following the passing of William Hurt.

Producer Nate Moore previously teased the dynamic between Ford’s character and Mackie’s Captain America, noting that Ross had imprisoned the superhero in “Captain America: Civil War” for violating the Sokovia Accords. “There’s going to be some natural sparks there, which I think are going to be really fun,” Moore said in 2022.

Marvel Studios and Mackie have not yet responded to additional requests for comment.