Anthony Mackie has never shied away from keeping his personal life private. But when it comes to raising his four sons, he’s making it clear that his approach to fatherhood is rooted in traditional values, discipline, and respect.
Mackie has always been deeply private about his personal life, particularly when it comes to his children. He shares four sons, aged 8 to 15, with his ex-wife Sheletta Chapital. In a past Esquire cover story, he explained why he doesn’t bring his kids into the Hollywood spotlight:
“I’ve always kept my personal life out of the business. I don’t allow people to photograph my kids. I don’t bring my kids around. I want my kids to be normal.”
In a recent interview on The Pivot Podcast with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder, Mackie opened up about his views on masculinity, fatherhood, and how he is raising his children to be strong, responsible young men in today’s world.
“For the past 20 years, we’ve been living through the death of the American male, they’ve killed masculinity in our communities…” @AnthonyMackie
— Pivot Podcast (@thepivot) March 12, 2025
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
Mackie spoke about what he sees as the decline of masculinity in America, arguing that the traits that once defined strong men are being eroded.
“In the past 20 years, we’ve been living through the death of the American male,” he said. “They have literally killed masculinity in our homes and our communities for one reason or another. But I raised my boys to be young men.”
For Mackie, that means instilling old-school values in his sons, which include respect and protecting their loved ones.
“My boys will always be respectful,” he shares. “They will 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 that their mother is taken care of and provided for. They will always be men.”
Despite his A-list Hollywood status, Mackie ensures that his kids aren’t caught up in materialism or the flashiness of celebrity culture.
“I keep my boys humble. My boys have never had a pair of Jordans. My boys don’t do all that internet fly shit. I could be the biggest star in the world, but do not let me catch you being stupid.”
Mackie ensures that his kids understand responsibility from an early age.
“Every time I leave 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.”
Mackie has always been deeply private about his personal life, particularly when it comes to his children. He shares four sons, aged 8 to 15, with his ex-wife Sheletta Chapital.
Mackie takes his role as a father very seriously. While his approach may not be everyone’s cup of tea, one thing is certain: Anthony Mackie isn’t afraid to stand firm in his values, even if they go against the grain of today’s societal norms.
Check out the full interview.
