Anthony Mackie shared a statement on Instagram in response to those who criticized recent comments he made about the Captain America character in which he said, "Let me be clear about this, I'm a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like CAP is the honor of a lifetime.

The actor, who plays Sam Wilson/Captain America in the upcoming film "Captain America: Brave New World" film, took to Instagram on Tuesday with a statement he shared in a story about what the role means to him and expressing his appreciation for those who serve and have served the country.

In Anthony Mackie’s new cover story for Esquire, Chris Evans revealed he told his Marvel co-star that he was the next Captain America in the MCU. “I inadvertently was the one who got to tell him that he was going to be Captain America. I didn’t know that he didn’t know,” Evans, 43, said in the story published Thursday.