Uh Oh, Matthew McConaughey Doesn’t Want The Redskins To Change Their Name

Matthew McConaughey is on the cover of this month’s GQ and inside is an interview in which McConaughey takes the contrarian stance that the Washington Redskins shouldn’t change their name. Of course he also talked about a ton of other topics, but we all know that’s the one that’s going to get the most attention. Break out the pitchforks!

More important, you were a Redskins fan growing up in Texas? What the hell was that about?
Two things. First: 4 years old, watching Westerns, I always rooted for the Indians. Second, my favorite food was hamburgers. The Redskins had a linebacker named Chris Hanburger.

That’s all it took?
When you’re 4 years old, that’s all it takes. I got a Redskins hat in my bag right now.

What do you think about the calls for the team to change its name?
Man, it’s twofold. What interests me is how quickly it got pushed into the social consciousness. We were all fine with it since the 1930s, and all of a sudden we go, “No, gotta change it”? It seems like when the first levee breaks, everybody gets on board. I know a lot of Native Americans don’t have a problem with it, but they’re not going to say, “No, we really want the name.” That’s not how they’re going to use their pulpit. It’s like my feeling about gun control: “I get it. You have the right to have guns. But look, let’s forget that right. Let’s forget the pleasure you get safely on your range, because it’s in the wrong hands in other places.”

But as a fan, it would hurt you a little to see the logo gone?
It’s not going to hurt me. It’s just… I love the emblem. I dig it. It gives me a little fire and some oomph. But now that it’s in the court of public opinion, it’s going to change. I wish it wouldn’t, but it will.

He also talks about the McConaissance, the “all right, all right” guy, his work in romantic comedies, becoming a father and other interesting things, but who are we kidding? McConaughey just lit a torch under his ass with these Redskins comments.

So what do you think? Is his honesty refreshing or is he just being the typical ignorant celebrity for not fully grasping why people want the Redskins name to be changed?

Check out the entire interview over at GQ.com.

Photo: Peggy Sirota/GQ