*“Captain America” star Anthony Mackie says we mislead kids by claiming hard work alone leads to success—luck plays a major role too.
“We are lying to our kids,” Mackie, 46, said during a recent interview on The Pivot Podcast, CNBC reports. “We tell [them] … if they do right and they make the good grades and they go to the programs, they will become successful. ‘If you work hard enough, your work will [pay off].’ And that’s not true.”
Mackie emphasized that in many cases, “success is given [and] not earned.”
Despite his rise to Hollywood stardom, Mackie is committed to ensuring his children stay grounded. He makes it clear that his success does not translate to a life of privilege for them.
“I keep my boys humble. Like my boys have never had a pair of Jordans. My boys don’t do all that internet fly stuff,” he shared. “I could be the biggest star in the world. Do not let me catch you being stupid.”
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“For the past 20 years, we’ve been living through the death of the American male, they’ve killed masculinity in our communities…” @AnthonyMackie
Star actor Anthony Mackie has soared to the highest levels in Hollywood but one thing he doesn’t play about is raising his boys to… pic.twitter.com/hqRuv6WZZZ
— Pivot Podcast (@thepivot) March 12, 2025
His parenting philosophy revolves around discipline, self-reliance, and avoiding unnecessary luxuries. Mackie, who shares four sons with his ex-wife Sheletta Chapital, wants them to develop strong character, especially in today’s world.
“In the past 20 years, we’ve been living through the death of the American male. They have literally killed masculinity in our homes and our communities for one reason or another,” he said. “But I raised my boys to be young men. And however you feel about that, you feel about that. But my boys will always be respectful, they’ll always say ‘yes sir, yes ma’am. No sir, no ma’am.’ They will always say thank you. They will always open the door for a lady. They will always make sure their mother is taken care of and provided for. They will always be men.”
Mackie has instilled values in his children from an early age, teaching them to show respect and take 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.’”
For Mackie, fame and fortune mean little compared to his role as a father. “All the money and celebrity in the world means nothing if I’m not there to protect my family,” he said.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ (Starring Anthony Mackie) Soars at the Box Office – Hints at MCU Revival | VIDEO
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