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Credit: Sebastian Stan InstagramThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier star Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Falcon) took on the mantle of Captain America at the end of the popular Disney+ streaming series. He received much fanfare in the press, and is even set to star in Malcolm Spellman’s upcoming Captain America 4 movie.
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Now, Mackie is back in the news, but it’s not for a positive reason. Many Marvel fans are upset about the Louisiana-born actor’s comments in a recent Variety interview. Per the article:
But he resists an interpretation that Sam and Bucky are sexually or romantically attracted to each other.
“So many things are twisted and convoluted. There’s so many things that people latch on to with their own devices to make themselves relevant and rational,” he says. “The idea of two guys being friends and loving each other in 2021 is a problem because of the exploitation of homosexuality. It used to be guys can be friends, we can hang out, and it was cool. You would always meet your friends at the bar, you know. You can’t do that anymore, because something as pure and beautiful as homosexuality has been exploited by people who are trying to rationalize themselves. So something that’s always been very important to me is showing a sensitive masculine figure. There’s nothing more masculine than being a superhero and flying around and beating people up. But there’s nothing more sensitive than having emotional conversations and a kindred spirit friendship with someone that you care about and love.”
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Throughout The Falcon and the Winter Soldier earlier this year, Mackie’s Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) worked together — albeit sometimes reluctantly — to battle Karli Morganthau’s (Erin Kellyman) Flash Smashers anti-nationalist group and former Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Russell).
The duo’s relationship, of course, is the subject of much discussion, with some Marvel Cinematic Universe fans subscribing to Mackie’s viewpoint that the two are simply great friends, while others wish there was something more between the Avengers duo, who made waves in the fan community after both Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
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On Twitter, some Marvel fans are sticking up for Mackie. Sazid H. Khan wrote:
I stand by Anthony Mackie.
Lgbtq+ peeps, please don’t turn into the very same monster and hypocrites you fought against.
I stand by Anthony Mackie.
Lgbtq+ peeps, please don't turn into the very same monster and hypocrites you fought against.
— Sazid H Khan (@intouchwithSHK) June 21, 2021
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Another social media user, Dalex Leonhart, responded to a post with anti-Mackie sentiments by supporting the actor:
This show never bait anything but some fans were doing theories just like in Wanda vision. There was nothing gay in Sam and Bucky friendship
This show never bait anything but some fans were doing theories just like in Wanda vision. There was nothing gay in Sam and Bucky friendship
— Dalex Leonhart (@dalex512) June 21, 2021
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Most fans online, however, are upset about Mackie’s comments. Shulkbo wrote:
anthony mackie really had to say this during pride month of all months
anthony mackie really had to say this during pride month of all months https://t.co/oN9JfYkXl7
— ✶ (@SHULKBO) June 21, 2021
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Max posted these thoughts regarding actor Anthony Mackie right now:
For anyone wondering why queer people were annoyed at Anthony Mackie’s interview the other day, read this 40 tweet thread PEGged here had the audacity to make during pride month. It’s the same harmful rhetoric, just not packaged as nicely.
For anyone wondering why queer people were annoyed at Anthony Mackie’s interview the other day, read this 40 tweet thread PEGged here had the audacity to make during pride month. It’s the same harmful rhetoric, just not packaged as nicely. https://t.co/cuXWJ0BT92
— maX ?️? (@MaxPatrick1113) June 20, 2021
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A user going by the name Whale Songs acknowledged Mackie’s point, but was still personally disappointed by his comments:
YES Anthony Mackie had a good point, HOWEVER none of this changes that what he said was still SUPER homophobic and even sexist to a degree. Homophobia is already rampant in the black community and for him to say this during pride month was just wrong and we shouldn’t excuse it.
YES Anthony Mackie had a good point, HOWEVER none of this changes that what he said was still SUPER homophobic and even sexist to a degree. Homophobia is already rampant in the black community and for him to say this during pride month was just wrong and we shouldn’t excuse it.
— ?Whale Songs ??? (@queendeedeeart) June 19, 2021
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Mackie (The Hurt Locker, The Woman in the Window, The Adjustment Bureau) is currently filming Signal Hill and gearing up for his reported role in Captain America 4. It is not yet known if a second season of the MCU television series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, will be given the green light at Marvel Studios.
The official description of Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier reads:
Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience—in Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.” The all-new series is directed by Kari Skogland; Malcolm Spellman is the head writer.
Secondary characters in the Marvel series include Daniel Bruhl as villain Baron Helmut Zemo and Emily VanCamp portraying Sharon Carter.
What do you think about what Anthony Mackie said?