Transcription of the Anthony Mackie Variety Interview
I saw someone do this on twitter too. Here is what was said in that podcast in it's full context. The interviewer is Adam B. Vary.
Interviewer: Did you pay much attention to how fans reacted to Sam and Bucky's sort of evolving relationship?
Anthony Mackie: I didn't, I try to stay away from fans' stuff, um, you know, the, the fandom is a very dangerous place. So uh, I just let it be what it is and, and move on.
Int: (amused) That's - I think that's probably very healthy. I was asking because, uh you know, my job is to pay attention to the fandoms so I-
Int: I (chuckles) I noticed that, you know, and this is, I think that, is been happening with Bucky just in general as a character, there are fans who just sort of, are outright wanting Sam and Bucky to become a couple. That they just loved them together -
Int: Um and (laughs) uh, you know, uh I can see that, that made you smile um.
Int: I guess, I'm interested in the, you know, how - it's so rare to see male friendship.
Int: And male, sort of, platonic love, in a superhero context, and Bucky's now had it twice, he had it with Steve and now he's getting it with Sam.
Int: For you, as an actor, like being able to explore that element of a relationship with another male character, I'm just curious how, how that evolves for you and what that's like for you to play.
AM: Um well, interesting, uh, great question. Because, for me, in this day and age so many things are twisted and convoluted. There's so many things that people latch onto with their own devices to make themselves relevant and rational. But it - it's not the first time I experimented or played with that, I did an episode of Black Mirror where it was the exact same thing.
[Mackie starred in an episode of Black Mirror called Striking Vipers. The episode tries to touch on the struggles of black masulinity, heteronormativity, gender and intimate relationships. Mackie's character rationalizes himself into thinking the feelings he has for his male best friend are purely virtual so as to stay with his wife.]
So, there's the missing context to what the Variety article quoted from Mackie. The question started with Vary saying "fans want Sam and Bucky to be a couple" to which Mackie didn't seem to react negatively to, but the question was not directed towards what Anthony thought about it. Instead, it was turned into what he thought of male frienships that are "rare" in the "superhero context." But in the actual article it says that "about Sam and Bucky's romantic relationship, this is what Mackie had to say" which is not true.
Here's the @thetransguard post that sums up a lot of what happened, including useful links for more info.
I don't want to bring more attention to this, I want to put this thing to rest, but accountability is important and what Variety and Vary did with this article was vile.
vaporwave
pixelskylines
blakekathryn
theartofmadeline
turnnoffyourmind
