“Like my boys have never had a pair of Jordans.” Yeah, the same Jordans that are practically a cultural badge of honor. That’s exactly what Anthony Mackie’s doing, and boy, are people talking. It’s not just about sneakers, though—it’s a full-on clash of parenting styles, a debate about what it means to raise grounded kids in a world of celebrity flash. And let’s be honest, it’s hitting a nerve with Michael Jordan fans.

Mackie recently revealed his parenting tactics during his appearance on The Pivot. Yep, despite the 46-year-old actor stepping into a new chapter of stardom with Captain America: Brave New World, his most important role is being a father. And it seems no amount of Hollywood success can shift his priorities when it comes to raising his kids the right way.

During his conversation on The Pivot, Mackie got real about how he’s keeping his sons grounded. “My boys don’t do all that internet fly shit,” he said. In a world where flashy trends and social media hype dominate, he’s making sure his kids don’t get caught up in the noise.

“I could be the biggest star in the world. Do not let me catch you being stupid,” he added, making it clear that fame and fortune don’t change his parenting style. For those unaware, Mackie shares four sons with his ex-wife, Sheletta Chapital. And while their marriage ended in 2018, his dedication to raising their boys with strong values hasn’t wavered. The Avengers star didn’t hold back when discussing why instilling masculinity in his kids is important to him.

“In the past 20 years, we’ve been living through the death of the American male. They have literally killed masculinity in our homes, in our communities for one reason or another,” Mackie said. But he’s making sure his sons grow into strong young men. “And however you feel about that, you feel about that.”

Mackie has been reinforcing values like respect and responsibility since his kids were toddlers. “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.’ I love that because we’re men,” the MCU star explained.

For Mackie, no amount of money or celebrity matters if he’s not protecting and guiding his family. “All the money and celebrity in the world means nothing if I’m not there to protect my family,” he said. “So, for me, it’s always that idea of American masculinity is very different.”

Strong opinions, for sure. No wonder that a significant section of IG users in the comment section of the post shared by The Shade Room agreed with the MCU star. However, some were divided with his comments on Michael Jordan’s Nike-owned brand.

Love for Michael Jordan-owned Nike Brand leaves fans divided on Anthony Mackie’s parenting tactics

Mackie might have had good intentions when explaining how he raises his kids, but the moment he mentioned that his sons have never owned a pair of Jordan Brand sneakers, all hell broke loose in the comment section.

“He had me until the no Jordans. Let them kids style, homie,” one fan wrote, summing up what many were thinking. Let’s be real—Jordans aren’t just sneakers; they’re a cultural staple, a status symbol, and for many, a childhood dream. And when you know Mackie can easily afford them, some fans couldn’t help but wonder—why deprive the kids of something so many aspire to own?

The backlash, however, didn’t stop there. Some fans found the MCU star’s logic completely baffling, with one user responding with pure sarcasm. “So if you buy your kids Jordans, there’s no possible way they can still become humble young men—got it…” Ouch. The idea that a pair of sneakers could somehow make or break a kid’s humility wasn’t landing well with everyone.

But then, there was one who tried putting things into perspective for a significant section of fans who could not see beyond Mackie’s Jordans comment. “A black teen just got killed because someone wanted his Cartier PRESCRIPTION glasses his mama bought him! THATS WHY HE SAID HIS SONS WILL NEVER CARE FOR JORDANS! he doesn’t raise them to want materialistic things,” the IG user wrote.

Well, there is no denying that unfulfilled desires are an easy pathway to sin and irresponsible behaviour. It seems this is what the 46-year-old actor wanted to highlight with his comments about Michael Jordan’s Nike-owned brand. One IG user tried to sum it up: “I believe he brought up the Jordans because A LOT of kids concentrate on looks more than their responsibilities as children. Being fly everyday, but disrespecting your mom and messing up in school aint cool.” Makes sense.

Especially when you realize that a significant section of the fans was stuck on a sneaker brand rather than focusing on more serious points raised by Anthony Mackie.

Fortunately, there were some who realized the irony of the situation. “That man said, I raise my boys to opens doors for women, say yes sir no sir, yes ma’am no ma’am and a lot of yall only heard his boys have never owned a pair of Jordans…. This the problem, right here, the problem…” wrote one such IG user.

And just like that, what started as a debate about sneakers turned into a bigger conversation about values, priorities, and what truly matters in raising kids. But then, what’s a celebrity opinion without a little controversy?