On Saturday, for the Fourth of July, the Oscar winner promoted face masks to protect against the coronavirus, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Happy 244th birthday, America. We is going through some growing pains in this one, aren’t we?” said McConaughey in Twitter and Instagram videos. “But growing pains are a good thing, because how the hell else are we going to grow up?”
McConaughey asked followers to dig deep for improvement and protect each other. “I think we gotta look each other in the eye...look ourselves in the eye, we gotta look in the mirror and ask ourselves, ‘How can I be better? How can I expect more of myself and others? How can I be more responsible? How can I have more compassion? How can I have more courage? How can I be more fair? How do I make sure that I wear the damn mask?’” he said, raising his fist.
19PHOTOS
Matthew McConaughey with his children
See Gallery
Matthew McConaughey with his children
AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Livingston Alves McConaughey, Camila Alves, Levi Alves McConaughey, honoree Matthew McConaughey, Vida Alves McConaughey, and Kay McConaughey attend the 2019 Texas Medal Of Arts Awards at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on February 27, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Livingston Alves McConaughey, Camila Alves, Levi Alves McConaughey, honoree Matthew McConaughey, Vida Alves McConaughey, and Kay McConaughey attend the 2019 Texas Medal Of Arts Awards at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on February 27, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Livingston Alves McConaughey, Camila Alves, Levi Alves McConaughey, honoree Matthew McConaughey, Vida Alves McConaughey, and Kay McConaughey attend the 2019 Texas Medal Of Arts Awards at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on February 27, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 25: Actors Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves and their children Levi, Vida and Livingston attend the final round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 25, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 28: Matthew McConaughey is seen with his daughter, Vida and his son, Levi on June 28, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Ignat/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 28: Matthew McConaughey with kids Levi and Vida are seen out in Tribeca on June 28, 2016 in New York, NY. (Photo by Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 05: Matthew Mcconaughey and Camila Alves are seen out in Tribeca with Levi Alves McConaughey and Vida Alves McConaughey October 5, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
Actor Matthew McConaughey and daughter attend the ceremony that honored him with a Star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Camila Alves-McConaughey and children attend the ceremony that honored Matthew McConaughey with a Star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Actor Matthew McConaughey and daugher attend the ceremony that honored him with a Star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 17: Camila Alves McConaughey, Levi McConaughey, Livingston McConaughey and Vida McConaughey attend the ceremony honoring Matthew McConaughey with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 17, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 17: Camila Alves, Levi McConaughey, Livingston McConaughey and Vida McConaughey attend The Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony for Matthew McConaughey on November 17, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/WireImage)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 17: Actor Matthew McConaughey and his family Camila Alves, Levi McConaughey, Livingston McConaughey , and Vida McConaughey attend The Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony for Matthew McConaughey on November 17, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 21: Honoree Matthew McConaughey (L, holding the American Cinematheque Award) and Vida Alves McConaughey attend the 28th American Cinematheque Award honoring Matthew McConaughey at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 21, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 21: Director/writer Christopher Nolan (R) presents the American Cinematheque Award to honoree Matthew McConaughey (center) with Vida Alves McConaughey (L) onstage at the 28th American Cinematheque Award honoring Matthew McConaughey at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 21, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 21: Honoree Matthew McConaughey (R) accepts the American Cinematheque Award with Vida Alves McConaughey (L) onstage at the 28th American Cinematheque Award honoring Matthew McConaughey at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 21, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MAY 17: Actor Matthew McConaughey (L) and Vida McConaughey participate in a charity Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt at a New Orleans apartment on May 17, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/GC Images)
AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 24: (L - R) Kay McConaughey, Levi McConaughey, Matthew McConaughey, Vida McConaughey and Camila Alves walk the red carpet during the Mack, Jack & McConaughey Gala at ACL Live on April 24, 2014 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Vida Alves McConaughey and Matthew McConaughey are seen in Santa Monica on June 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage)
(L-R) Camila Alves, Vida Alves McConaughey, Levi Alves McConaughey and Matthew McConaughey are seen in Santa Monica on June 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage)
He explained that making changes individually makes collective change. “That’s how we get to next year’s birthday and birthdays beyond that. And we start partying again. Looking around and thinking, ‘Oh yeah we always got work to do. We never arrive, but we improved.’ That’s our chance. That’s our opportunity. That’s on me. That’s on you.”
“It’s game time. Ding, ding. We are in the ring, America,” he said in his classic drawl. “Let’s quit messing about and get it done,” closing out his speech with his famous tagline: “Just keep livin.’” Married couple Camila and Matthew McConaughey founded the “just keep livin’ Foundation” to empower teens after he was inspired by the phrase while filming the 1993 film Dazed and Confused.
McConaughey previously toldCBS Sunday Morning that his support for face masks has nothing to do with politics. "It's about us. It's not about politics," he said. "The narrative started to feel like, 'Well, if you wanna go to work, you're on the far right. And if you wanna stay home, you're on the far left.' And that's just not true. Virus doesn't give a damn who you voted for, or I voted for, you know?" he said. "And we shouldn't care about that right now.”
In April, the actor even showed followers how to make their own masks at home using a bandana, a coffee filter and rubber bands, taking on the alter ego of “Bobby Bandito” in an Instagram video. And in May, McConaughey provided hospital workers in Texas and Louisiana with face masks.
McConaughey has stayed plenty busy while in quarantine by giving an online commencement speech to the Class of 2020. In the video that aired on Good Morning America in May, the actor advised grads to “act today in ways that you will respect tomorrow.”
“From how you treat yourself to how you treat others in real life and online. And what I mean by online, just remember those comments you leave online, those thumbs-up or thumbs-down, they will outlive you,” he said. “They are part of your resume of who you are.”
