Anthony Mackie may have reached new heights in his film career with Captain America: Brave New World, but for him, parenting remains the top priority.
In a recent appearance, Mackie spoke candidly about raising his children. “I keep my boys humble. Like my boys have never had a pair of Jordans.
My boys don’t do all that internet fly shit,” he shared. “I could be the biggest star in the world. Do not let me catch you being stupid.”
He elaborated further, explaining how his oldest son helps keep his younger siblings in line.
“My oldest gets it, my 15-year-old. He tell the other ones, he’s like, ‘Yo, don’t make dad mad.’ Once you get one that’s right, he’s going to straighten the other ones out.”
Mackie shares four sons with his ex-wife, Sheletta Chapital. The couple finalized their divorce in 2018.
The Avengers star also discussed the importance of building his children’s character. “So, it is just that thing of in the past 20 years, we’ve been living through the death of the American male.
Captain America Brave New World Star Anthony Mackie (Photo: Marvel)They have literally killed masculinity in our homes, in our communities for one reason or another. But I raise my boys to be young men. And however you feel about that, you feel about that.”
Since they were toddlers, Mackie has instilled values in his sons, emphasizing respect and responsibility.
“Every time I left for a job, I tell my 15-year-old, ‘You’re the man of the house. You make sure these doors are locked. Every night this alarm is on.
You text me or you call me every night before you go to bed and you wake up.’ I love that because we’re men,” he explained.
For Mackie, neither fame nor wealth holds greater significance than being present for his family.
“All the ‘money’ and ‘celebrity’ in the world means nothing if I’m not there to protect [my family],” he said. “So, for me, it’s always that idea of American masculinity is very different.”
Mackie made his big-screen debut in 2002’s 8 Mile and has since built an impressive career, including his role as Sam Wilson (also known as Falcon) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before officially stepping into the mantle of Captain America.