Country music star John Rich is taking a stand against Marvel’s latest installment of Captain America, joining a growing chorus of voices criticizing lead actor Anthony Mackie for recent comments about the iconic superhero and his connection to America.

Rich, 51, made his stance clear in a post on X (formerly Twitter) after Mackie, who now plays Captain America, suggested that “America” shouldn’t be the character’s defining trait.

“I guess I won’t be taking my kids to watch Captain Anti-America,” Rich wrote to his followers, blasting Mackie’s remarks. “These idiots will never learn.”

I guess I won’t be taking my kids to watch Captain Anti-America. These idiots will never learn. https://t.co/8NjmZ4T0dw

— John Rich?? (@johnrich) January 28, 2025

The backlash started when Mackie, who has taken over the Captain America mantle from Chris Evans, was promoting Captain America: Brave New World in Rome during a press interview. He was asked about what the superhero represents.

“For me, Captain America represents a lot of different things, and I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations,” Mackie stated. “It’s about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity, and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable.”

While Mackie’s comments may have been intended to emphasize personal virtues, they immediately struck a nerve with many who believe Captain America should be a direct reflection of American values.

Rich was far from alone in his reaction. Conservative commentators and media personalities quickly piled on, criticizing Mackie’s statement and calling for a boycott of the film, which is slated for release on February 14.

Ben Shapiro, editor emeritus of The Daily Wire, posted, “These studios at some point will have to stop giving their stars a platform to utterly destroy their product.”

Outkick’s Clay Travis also weighed in: “Are there any actors and actresses employed by Marvel who aren’t complete and total morons?”

Political commentator Dan Bongino didn’t hold back, calling the movie “another s*** movie I won’t be seeing.”

BlazeTV’s Todd Erzen urged conservatives to respond with action: “You should mock and boycott him just as mercilessly as you would Selena Gomez. His movie needs to pay the price for his disrespect.”

This controversy is just the latest in an ongoing culture war between Hollywood and conservative audiences. Many, like Rich, see comments like Mackie’s as part of a larger trend in entertainment where traditional American values are downplayed or rewritten.

For Rich, a well-known patriot and outspoken critic of progressive ideology in entertainment, the decision to keep his kids away from Captain America: Brave New World is about more than just one comment—it’s about where Hollywood is heading.

Over the years, Rich has been vocal about his Christian faith and belief in American exceptionalism. His refusal to support the film aligns with his broader stance against what he sees as a leftist agenda in entertainment.