Anthony Mackie has been embroiled in a controversy concerning his Captain America symbolism. The MCU star who plays Sam Wilson, formerly Falcon, is set to take up Chris Evans' Star Spangle Man status in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, slated to release on February 14. During the current press tour in Rome, he received backlash after passing on a controversial remark about Captain America's representation.
During the movie's promotion at the press event, he went on to discuss how Captain America stands for important values rather than just representing America. “For me, Captain America represents a lot of different things, and I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations," he said.
According to him, the adored character is a man who stands by his words and is "trustable and dependable" in addition to representing "honor, dignity, and integrity." (via Comic Book)
Mackie's comments were quickly misinterpreted and gained traction online, leaving the internet divided. Many individuals took to social media to call out Mackie for what they believed to be an "anti-American" comment. People criticized him for his remarks and called for a boycott of the movie.
Nonetheless, after receiving massive backlash, Mackie has clarified his earlier comments on an Instagram story, mentioning that he is a "proud American" and he is honored to have been given Cap's title.
He cleared the air, saying, " “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."
While some criticized him for his comments, others defended the star, encouraging individuals to read the comics to gain a deeper fundamental understanding of the hero's values and principles. Some also believed that he simply reflected on the character's true essence and moral compass, which have been focused on before in past movies too. And that people are unnecessarily hating on him.