Anthony Mackie made several unsavory statements earlier this year, especially when he said Selma didn’t win Oscars because people are “bombarded with race.” Then he switched gears with some weird sexist remarks like, “Make daddy a sandwich.” Mackie’s stayed quiet lately because he’s been busy shooting Civil War, although he briefly surfaced to try and find a girlfriend for his bro, Chris Evans. Mackie’s such a talented actor, but man, his messy mouth ruins everything.
Mackie is back to promote Our Brand Is Crisis. A few days ago, he said something about supporting Donald Trump but claimed to be joking. Now he’s spoken with the Daily Beast about Marvel’s Black Panther and more. Mackie very much wanted that role (which recently went to Chadwick Boseman); they hired Mackie to play Falcoln (in the Captain America movies) instead. It all worked out for Mackie, who was still able to yell “Cut the check!” after every scene, and he’s an Avenger. Mackie tells The Beast how a black director doesn’t have to helm Black Panther, and he does not deliver his sentiment well:
Mackie on international relations: “To be in that political world … they’re just different types of people. They’re not like normal regular people. They swoop in, impose their will, and swoop out. I think they have the ability not to care. Normal people, even if you do something, it still affects you in a certain way. In some way, shape, or form – old rule – you should never leave a place worse than when you found it. You should always try to make it a little better. But it’s funny to look at how drastically different people are in certain situations, because I don’t think we should go around the world and impose democracy on everybody. Some people just aren’t made for democracy. Some people just need a dictator. That’s just who they are.”
On race and directing Black Panther: “I don’t think it’s important at all. As a director your job is to tell a story. You know, they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit! The thing is I don’t think the race of the director has to do with their ability to tell a story. I think it’s all about the director’s ability to be able to relate to that story and do it justice. I think men can direct women, and two of my greatest work experiences were with female directors. So I think it all depends. May the best man – or woman – win.”
Why he lives in NOLA: “If you live in the sh*t, you’ll be in the sh*t. That’s why I live in New Orleans, because no one cares! No one bothers you.”
[From Daily Beast]
CB wanted me to mention that Mackie and Matt Damon are good buddies. They starred together in Adjustment Bureau, and Mackie won a bet, so he made Matty wear a New Orleans Saints jersey to visit David Letterman. So Mackie is all about ‘Nawlins for sure.
What do you think of Mackie’s thoughts on directing the Black Panther? The whole “they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit” is a ginormous oversimplification of the issue, but that’s Mackie. He’s a pretty cut-and-dried type of guy. Now make daddy a sandwich!
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN
“they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit!”
“Some people just need a dictator. That’s just who they are.”
“Now make daddy a sandwich”
Painful…
He’s so dumb and unsophisticated in his thought process its almost comical.
Mackie unwittingly made a correlation between African Americans and animals by saying, “they didn’t get a horse to direct seabiscuit”.
People of color and specifically African Americans have been compared to animals for centuries. Mackie is sadly clearly white identified and too stupid to realize that he’s relegating himself to a Jessica Alba-like career of shallow roles and t & a parts. Sure he’s good enough to look at but he should learn to just deliver the lines that someone else wrote and not bother sharing his inane opinions.
Or more to the point he seems to have forgotten Seabiscuit wasn’t about the horse. It was about the people and events that centered around a horse as a hub of sorts. with a major event.
Maybe Black panther should have a Panther for a director?
This guy… He says everything so terribly. Keep talking so we can all understand what a private conversation with Damon might be like.
And did he just call NOLA a gross or troubled place?
Just shut up and let me look at you.
I was just thinking the exact same thing.
He is fine as all hell but needs to stfu
He is very rambly, isn’t he. His thoughts on international relations seem very incoherent.
And while I agree that “we” shouldn’t try to swoop in and impose things on other countries it’s very insulting to imply that people need a dictator because they are to dumb for democracy.
The same type of uneducated, ill-thought-out generalization is going on in his thoughts about black panther.
Protecting oppressed people from ruthless dictators isn’t “imposing democracy on people.” It’s impossible to “impose” democracy on people anyway. I don’t know if Mackie understands what “democracy” means.
Jesus some people are dumb.
Like DUMB, so dumb it actually pains me a little.
Everytime this man speaks it is achingly ignorant and reeks so pitifully of trying so hard to appease his superiors.
Relax Mackie, I’m sure they’ll cut you another check.
I mean really. I’m embarrassed for him.
Right? Sigh. I’ve always liked him, that smile of his gets my motor revving, so it pains me to see how douchey he comes off.
Dude is so determined not to rock the gravy train or upset the status quo in anyway because right now he’s in the pink. If things ever start going south for him in Hollywood, we might hear him sing a different tune.
Sorry for the over use of metaphors. It’s lunchtime and I’m hungry. 🙂
Lol at the metaphors!
And rock the gravy train? Or speak as he actually feels?
Ugh I didn’t even wanna say anything……but I think that is how he feels. HE doesn’t want to say anything that will make him come off as angry, controversial……like a parrot, trained to say whatever he’s told to. I try and avoid his interviews, because it’s just…wow.
His bro friendship with Matt Damon makes sense.
DUMB!!!! Man does he need to shut up. I used to think he is fine but now all I see is DUMB.
The list of celebs that need to never speak just keeps getting longer and longer. How many times do you have to get called out for your foolishness before you finally think before speaking. Or are they thinking and still that ignorant? Geez.
You know, the crap that’s come outta this guys’ mouth, I absolutely believe that he supports Donald Trump.
He’s right and he’s wrong. And he’s a dumb actor that has too big of a platform.
You can’t make hiring decisions based off of how someone self identifies (i.e. race or gender). But if you are wanting to say that you want a director who can understand deeply the character of Black Panther, then that’s another thing. That doesn’t mean that only a black director can do so, so he’s right about that. But the wording he uses….
But the horse comment, ugh. Why is speaking about diversity so hard for some people? I understand not wanting to rock the boat, but these comments don’t help anyone. Why not say that he’s excited that they are at least considering diversifying behind the camera talent and hopes they find someone exciting to direct this project? See, not that difficult.
I must be missing something , because I didn’t find what he said problematic at all. It boils down to “a good director of any race should be able to tell the story,” and I agree for the most part. To me, it is far more problematic to ask these questions of actors of color only and then tear apart their answers when they don’t get them just “right.” Would it be wonderful if he gave a more nuanced answer? Yes. But perhaps he’s not that knowledgeable or not that interested or just tired of having to be the mouthpiece for all black actors everywhere. Has anyone asked Don Cheadle what he thinks? Or Chris Evans? Or RDJ? Of course not.
Even if you didn’t find that problematic he said some pretty awful things about democracy too. And for the record hes not “the mouthpiece of black actors everywhere”. He’s one of many black actors who are semi well known, lets not flatter his gigantic dumb ego. Its not as if he is Will Smith or Denzel Washington.
I was obviously only speaking about the Black Panther quotes, not his views on Democracy. And I know he isn’t the mouthpiece for all black actors, that’s actually my point. Just because he is black doesn’t mean he has any more knowledge of this subject than anyone else. He’s just got people asking him questions about it an expecting him to be educated, eloquent, and thoughtful about it for no other reason than the fact that he’s also black. I’m not even famous, but it wears thin to always have non minorities expect me to be an authority on all things related to race.
I didn’t find anything wrong in what he said, perhaps it’s the way he said it. But he’s right, why would you need a Black director to direct the Black Panther movie. After all Black Panther is a Marvel character created by two White men, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. They did the character in the comics just fine.
Imagine if most people had said that Antoine Fugua shouldn’t have directed King Arthur because King Arthur needed a White Director or Tim Story shouldn’t have directed F4Reboot because he is Black.
I couldn’t give a shit about who directs marvel movies. In general though, theres not a lot of black directors around. Especially the type that are allowed to direct at the very top level. You and him are simplying the matter. This is equal to the debate about female directors. We always hear this: the best director blah blah blah. Are we to believe that white male directors make the best directors by default? If Anthony had been an actor 40 years ago. They would have said the same thing about black actors. The best actors should tell the story blah blah . He’s lucky to be a black actor in this day and age. A lot of people fought so he could get those marvel pay checks. Shame he’s such an uneducated simpleton.
Lola, I think for me the point is that it isn’t a simple topic, even for people who are educated about it. Why on earth is a hollywood actor fielding these questions? There is nearly nothing he can say about it that will be deemed good enough, why is it even being asked of him? Because he is black. Full stop. I think that’s a problem, in addition to the lack of black power players in Hollywood.
@Lola I stand by what I said. You don’t need a Black Director to direct a Black character lead. I’m not simplifying anything. Don’t pretend you know me by saying that’s what I’m doing. How about your going off on an unnecessary tantrum just for the sake of going off. Jeez, relax.
@BendyWindy +1
…and yes I meant you’re but my phone chose your. I guess it likes to pretend that it knows me as well.
I also ” don’t think we should go around the world and impose democracy on everybody” but that’s because I think every society should develop in its own way, hopefully peacefully. It’s certainly NOT because I think those backward foreign savages “just aren’t made for democracy” and “just need a dictator. That’s just who they are.”
Honestly, honestly, honestly: that’s just about the most awful thing I’ve ever read coming out of a celebrity’s mouth.
I almost fainted. That thought process … is just nuts. Did he graduate high school? If you follow that line of thinking, maybe some people just need to be enslaved, that’s just who they are.
And people complain about Anne Hathaway’s interviews. At least she’s not stupid. They need to stop asking celebrities these questions. #askthemless
#askthemless is hilarious-I’m on board.
I almost fainted, too. I do mean it: that’s the worst bit of othering I’ve ever, ever read coming out of the mouth of a celebrity.
#askthemless
LMAO, damn some of you ladies are wicked clever. Right? Here we were thinking we actually wanted to have discussions with celebrities about serious topics and instead we realize we need to actually put a clause in their contracts that stipulates they do LESS non-scripted talking.
I searched and searched my feeble brain trying to think of what he could have possibly meant by that. Other than what he obviously meant by that. I came up empty.
Your brain isn’t feeble, GNAT. He meant what we all know he meant. There really isn’t another interpretation. Scary, huh?
I read that and my jaw dropped. His rambling thoughts on black directors pale in comparison to that piece of wtfery.
Lol at #askthemless.
Fully in support of this!
I actually very much believe that every country in the world should be a democracy first. I’m tired of the old ‘some countries/peoples aren’t made for democracy’. How the hell do we know if the people never get to have a true choice/voice? People in China have never been able to vote in a real democratic election, who knows what the people of China really want?
“Some people just need a dictator.” Says the guy who has never actually lived under a dictator, or even a country without freedom of speech.
He used to seem like a nice and talented guy, but good Lord, he’s incredibly naive and kind of an a-hole. #Askthemless indeed.
Ugh, Mackie again. Ever heard of false equivalency?? Yeah I’ve always found it an absolute crime that a toy never got the opportunity to direct a Toy Story movie.
Never let it be said you must be smart to be an actor. Yikes.
“I don’t think it’s important at all. As a director your job is to tell a story. You know, they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit! The thing is I don’t think the race of the director has to do with their ability to tell a story. I think it’s all about the director’s ability to be able to relate to that story and do it justice. I think men can direct women, and two of my greatest work experiences were with female directors. So I think it all depends. May the best man – or woman – win.”
This! SO this! It’s what I’ve been saying all along. It’s what I believe Matt Damon was saying. And once again, we didn’t need a Black director to make “The Color Purple” one incredible film.
Exactly. That’s all I took from this. I think people expect actors, who are hired for a particular talent, and being eloquent in their own words is not necessarily required, to make these sweeping statements and never make a misstep or inelegantly construct a thought.
There are those we forgive for gaffes and those we tend to pile on.
I get what he meant to say…and those things were: 1.) It’s not our place to impose Western-style democracy on cultures and people who don’t want it, AND 2.) Race and gender are not supposed to be barriers to doing a job in show business, either in front of or behind the camera, well.
I don’t get the angst over it. He’s not a spokesperson or a motivational speaker. He’s an actor. A pretty one. A talented one. So…yeah.
i’m sorry for spilling Adele’s thread here, but reading Mackie’s interview…
Adele didn’t have to go for a black actor (and a yummy man too) to be the leading man in her video. I don’t know why but it just surprised me. Pleasant surprise. But thank goodness she did. And it was a good role too, a positive role. She’s apologizing to him even.
Exactly. We rarely see black actors and actresses in certain roles and we don’t (at least people like Mackie don’t) wonder why and if that isn’t down to the bias of the director. So when a black actor is featured normally it’s somewhat shocking.
All he had to say was Marvel only needs to pick the best person to direct the film, regardless of gender or ethnicity and left it at that. He is an dumb ass, and I’m tired of seeing him spout off. Anthony Mackie can be in a movie and not be in a movie at the same time. To me he is forgettable. My friends call me a walking IMDB, and I can only remember him being in Captain America:Winter Soldier and Ant-Man even though I know he has been in more films that I have seen. His comments about international relations are just too stupid for me to muster up a response. SMH
Yeah. He sounds idiotic.
You mean to tell me you don’t remember,
This guy’s a gangsta, his real name’s Clarence
And Clarence lives at home with both parents
And Clarence parents have a real good marriage
This guy doesn’t wanna battle he shook
Cause ain’t no such thing as half-way crooks
He played the role of Papa Doc in 8 Mile.
He also had a role in Adjustment Bureau. Was in Gangster Squad, Million Dollar Baby, The Hurt Locker and that Abraham Lincoln is a Vampire Hunter movie.
He’s right on international relations. People need a certain level of education and cultural civilisation before they’re ready for democracy. People, especially minorities are better off under beign dictators (or even the bad ones in some cases) than at the mercy of uneducated, hate fuelled mobs that vote in governments to oppress and kill everybody they disagree with. If people want democracy they will fight for it themselves and achieve it when they’re ready.
We need more black and other minority directors, his horse analogy is strange. People say all sorts of strange things everyday so I won’t hold the fact he speaks to journalists as he would in private conversation against him. Most interviews are so boring now because public figures need to police their speech to within an inch of their life because of the hordes of professionally offended who wait for a badly phrased comment to jump on so they can falsely accuse them of some ism.
I like him. I like his acting. He’s not a product of wealth or nepotism, he’s earned his place and it will be sad if they ever put a muzzle on him to prevent further ‘misspeaking’. That shouldn’t even be a thing.
Can you expand on how minorities especially are better off under a benevolent dictator? Because I’m hoping that English isn’t your mother tongue and that came out differently than it was meant.
Probably referring to the old adage that Saddam Hussein kept things in order with regards to the different groups in Iraq, or maybe Tito in former Yugoslavia. Both of which are prime examples of why we shouldn’t draw the borders of countries we’re not going to live in ourselves.
He is kind of right, but with a HUGE qualification of benevolent dictator tho. We do need a certain level of education and exposure plus empathy before a democracy can work in certain countries where race and cultural or clannish sentiments still prevail (I’m from south east Asia) otherwise, a democracy is just a way to legitimize the decisions taken in favour of majority group elected reps actions that are actually oppressive to the minority. The us vs them mentality is still alive and strong in these parts and many are resistant to a more inclusive race and gender blind policies, citing their larger majority as having more rights to do things a certain way and the minority should just respect the democracy. Those who try to advocate change are summarily removed before they even get to ministerial positions as being a traitor to the group. Even the opposition wins on the same basis of we will teach them a lesson platform and naturally the majority group will close ranks and vote to keep them ‘safe’. Singapore kinda works because LKY was building a Singaporean race and nation in one go, but even there the innate racial sentiments of the majority still manifests it self.
@ viv
Minorities are not badly educated by default. It’s you that seem badly educated when you make this type of comment. Well I am hoping you are badly educated, if not I have to say your comment comes across as racist.
Doesn’t the concept of “minorities” differ by location? And isn’t the term “benevolent dictator” an oxymoron?
I think you might have misinterpreted (or I have).
The way I read it, I don’t think Viv meant POC (like it usually means in the US), I think he/she just meant “group not in power” whether that’s an ethnic, religious or ideological group.
For example, I would not like to be a Christian in Syria when Bashar al-Assad’s regime falls. And even-though the French Revolution was “home-grown” rather than externally imposed, there is a reason the period immediately after it is called “The Reign of Terror”. Any time of cultural upheaval tends to leave minorities worse off, at least temporarily.
Some of the best years in Brazil at certain aspects were during the military dictatorship and it happened with America’s support.
I never found him to be attractive. His teeth are a huge turnoff for me. He is also ignorant, misogynistic, and conservative. This guy just isn’t all that and I don’t know how he became so famous. I am not into these comic movies so I haven’t seen Mackie in many films, but is he really that good of an actor that he is being given all of these great roles even though he isn’t that handsome nor intelligent?
Mackie is even more missing the point with his “they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit” comment because Seabiscuit wasn’t about the horse. It was about Toby McGuire’s character.
Here’s how he could have (should have?) answered: I think it would be great to have a black director on this particular film, they could relate to the character in a way someone of a different race may not be able to, and we should be encouraging more women and people of color to be directors. But I don’t think it’s a requirement, because a good storyteller, a good director, can find a way to tell the story, even if they can’t personally relate in all aspects.
Exactly. Oftentimes, (we see this especially in sitcoms), the storyline suffers because the person behind the camera can’t relate. So the role lacks nuance and is mostly a broad, often stereotypical characterization. That’s not to say that a black director would necessarily be a good storyteller. Looking at you Tyler Perry. Or that a non black director can’t do justice to the film. But it would be nice to have more representation behind the scenes as well.
Excellent post Lucy2
You can stop sucking now, dear.
The more I hear about Matt Damon’s ‘good’ friends (i.e. Mackie, Affleck) the more I think he has to be the most well-hidden boar Hollywood.
This^^^, exactly.
I don’t want to read anything he says. I just want to look at him. He’s so, so pretty. 🙂