Anthony Mackie triggers debate with comments about his Falcon character's sexuality

[LonePirate]

https://variety.com/2021/tv/awards/anthony-mackie-falcon-winter-soldier-paul-bettany-wandavision-podcast-1234999174/

Anthony Mackie, who stars in the Disney+ series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" as The Falcon, was asked about some fans interpreting numerous (queerbait?) scenes from the show as suggesting a pending romantic relationship between Mackie's Falcon and Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier (aka Bucky Barnes). Here is Mackie's response as quoted from the linked article.

“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.”

Mackie offers a defense of the show depicting a close, sensitive friendship between the allegedly heterosexual characters. Close male friendships are increasingly rare on television and as such his defense of the friendship is good to read.

However, his words about viewers trying to be relevant and trying to rationalize themselves by seeing a homosexual element to the characters has pissed off fans. Some think Mackie is being dismissive if not condescending to the show's gay fans, of which there are many given Bucky's history in the comics and previous Captain America/Avengers movies. Not only that but the show contains several scenes that would clearly be considered foreshadowing a future relationship if the two characters were a heterosexual man and woman. Tweets from Variety about the interview have all sorts of comments from LGBT fans and their allies who have taken issue with Mackie's statement.

So DUers, are Mackie's comments acceptable and astute or are they offensive and inappropriate? There is more to read at the above link than the one paragraph I quoted.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. I'm always inclined to be more forgiving about things said in interviews

As opposed to things that someone writes (and hence has time to think about and express how they want to).

But the totality of the message does pretty much seem to be that he's upset that guys can't be sensitive with their guy friends w/o being perceived as gay ... which, while perhaps an understandable frustration to some hetero males ... also comes across as a bit homophobic.

He does at least call being gay 'beautiful', which not many actual homophobes would ever say.

My initial impression leans towards 'Boo!', but I'll be curious to see how he attempts to clarify. It's not SO bad that some explanation might not make it less obnoxious as it first kinda seems.

In particular, who are these people trying to make themselves 'relevant'? Are they people who are bashing Marvel for an implication of homosexuality? If so ... then his comments are lot more understandable, even if he could've been a bit more eloquent about it ... it's an interview, not a book.

But I don't know who he meant, so ...

[abqtommy]

2. Not everybody is "gay". Not everybody is "straight". Get over it.

[Sympthsical]

3. There's something weird in that statement

For example:

"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 . . ."

Er, you can't? Since when?

I do understand what he's trying to say, and I agree. Showing a sensitive, masculine figure is a good thing. I love the Falcon character and really enjoyed the show and Mackie's portrayal and arc. It was brilliant.

I wonder if he knows the "shipping" element in fandom, where people fantasize what they want to see in a show or movie or whatever. Trillions of pages about shipping various characters from various shows have been written (shipping means wanting two characters to be in a relationship).

I think some of it came out of the idea that Bucky Barnes is bisexual. A lot has been written about it for many years now. And there was a confusing read in episode one of the show with Bucky and a dating app (the director, I think, denied it was supposed to mean he was bi). And then there was this weird therapy scene where Sam and Bucky are sitting close to each other with their legs practically intertwined. I don't usually ship what's not there, but it seemed really weirdly intimate - beyond a platonic intimacy. I put it down to a director not realizing what that actually looked like. Then there's another scene where they crash land and roll around in a field together and one ends up on top of the other in a, "Are they about to kiss?" sort of situation.

People read a lot into that.

But, meh. I know what the actor meant. I think he phrased it maybe inartfully. It doesn't honestly bother me. It's the internet. People pick at things.

If you want a sampling of the kinds of things written. https://www.comicsbeat.com/mcu-bucky-queer-coding-falcon-and-winter-soldier.

[LonePirate]

6. I share your view. Mackie is not homophobic and meant no harm. He was just inartful.

[TraceNC]

4. Wait til they hear about Ace and Gary.

[Sympthsical]

7. Nothing! n/t

[Dr. Strange]

9. What's everybody looking at?!

[TraceNC]

10. That's the line. I was trying to remember. Ha!

[tulipsandroses]

5. I don't get why this is controversial

From the mother of a gay man who just asked him. He doesn't get it either. He doesn't watch the show by the way, I just asked him to read this post and asked his opinion.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Heterosexism in action.

Just like the expected straightsplainin' sure to follow, including by those who's "best friends are gay" types, this response is biased. This isn't really homophobic, per se; it is, however, heterosexist. Between the lack of queer representation, queerbating, and straight up bigotry, the gay community is still having quite a few problems in the systemic heterosexist socio-cultural arena.

[BannonsLiver]

13. More like bad reading comprehension in action.

A refresher:

“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.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Thanks for 'splaining it to me.

First, heterosexism and homophobia are NOT the same thing. Second, systemic oppression comes in many forms, including heterosexism. Finally, perhaps YOU need to re-read before telling a gay man his feelings are wrong!

ETA a refresher for YOU:

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

I highlighted the parts to make it easier for you.

[obamanut2012]

23. Bingo

[BradAllison]

16. Maybe your response is biased?

I think the actor playing one of the characters might be in some position to weigh in when asked without "he just doesn't get it because you know, typical...." dismissal.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. Thanks for 'splainin' it to me.

I think, as a gay person, I am in some position to weigh in on something which I feel is insulting, even bigoted to my community. His own comments shows he "doesn't get it" and apparently, you don't either. His response was defensive, dismissive and heterosexist.

[BradAllison]

19. Great conversation!

It's always a joy to come to a message board and engage with people who have zero interest in literally anyone else's opinion, and do so by heaving the greatest insult possible on this board to basically nuke any further talk.

My point was, we are all biased inherently and naturally.

Have a great night.

[Behind the Aegis]

20. Exactly.

Nothing better than being a minority and having someone who isn't telling them their opinion is wrong and they are overreacting.

"My point was, we are all biased inherently and naturally."

Reflect on that.

[obamanut2012]

24. Good lord, you literally just straightsplained a gay man

JFC.

[obamanut2012]

22. Oh, they are allll over this thread

Just like I knew they would be.

[dsc]

11. I think some of this is OK and some if it isn't

I do agree that it is problematic that two male characters can't be good friends on a series (particularly if the actors are handsome) without people wanting them to be in a relationship. I haven't watched this show but on 911 there is a similar situation with a two fire fighters. That said, he is a little undignified in his treatment of gayness in this quote.

[BannonsLiver]

12. Creepy and weird anyone would be so invested in what the characters sexuality is.

Just watch the show FFS. It’s not a white paper or college thesis.

[TlalocW]

15. If true, that's going to set up an interesting dynamic

Since Bucky was mackin' on the Falcon's sister pretty hard.

TlalocW

[BradAllison]

17. People take issue with everything nowadays

Especially fans of fiction and wannabe writers. They want it how they would write it and how they cook it up in their head about virtually every scenario. And when it gets dispelled at least partially by someone with far more influence than them, they get pissed. And some try to make it a social issue and a hanging offense, which really sucks.

I've never watched this series, but a similar male/female arguably hetero-normative relationship was portrayed in Avengers between Black Widow and Hawkeye but the two never got together and never would.

[eShirl]

21. How the Xena show handled this was to leave it open to interpretation.

[LiberatedUSA]

25. I think we should be outraged.

I need the fix. I need that outrage fix to get me through the day, plus it gives me bonus points over my friends to show them how progressive I am by getting super mad at something.

HE SAID WHAT!!!???!!!??

HOW DARE HE!!!!

I shall call him a bigot and that shall be the end of it. If he says anything else, we shall dismiss it by referring to anything out of his mouth other than “I am a hateful bigot for saying men can be friends without being gay” as “splaining”.

Now where’s my trusty pitchfork?