Marvel clarified the widespread support for Thanos’ crimes against the universe earlier this year with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The events of Hawkeye take place a few years after the events of Avengers: Endgame and Phase 4 of the MCU are still reeling from the five years since the Mad Titan wiped out half of all life on Earth. “Thanos Was Right” has become a catchphrase in Hawkeye’s New York City, from graffiti in men’s rooms to merchandise. This is even though the Avengers resurrected everyone.

Why Is Thanos Right?

As a result of Thanos’ genocide, the post-Avengers: Endgame world was the focus of Falcon and Winter Soldier. During the five years of The Blip, half of the worldwide people vanished from the face of the Earth. This “new world order” resulted in countries opening their borders to immigrants to increase their population. The Blip’s five years of existence aided many people in their quest to find housing and employment.

When Smart Hulk snapped the Infinity Gauntlet and brought the dead back to life, the world was forced to return to the ‘old world order.’ The Flag-Smashers were among those forcefully relocated by the same countries that had welcomed immigrants, which led to the creation of the Flag-Smashers. As a result of the Global Repatriation Council forming to relocate the refugees who were no longer allowed in the residences they had made during The Blip, the central conflicts in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier were established.

Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s “Flag-Smashers’ politics” inspired Hawkeye’s “Thanos Was Right.” The Flag-Smashers, led by Karli Morgenthau, gained worldwide support during the five years of The Blip. This is because they wanted to restore the state of the world. Flag-Smashers’ belief in “One World, One People” stemmed from their belief that the world had become one following Thanos’ genocide, even though they didn’t say so. Essentially, the Flag-Smashers agreed that “Thanos Was Right” because the core belief of the Mad Titan that eradicating half of society would fortify the remaining half turned out to be true. Or at least this is so from the point of view of a segment of the surviving people.

Thanos Gaining A Cult-Like Status

It doesn’t matter how often Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes, or John Walker defeat the Flag-Smashers. Hawkeye’s New York still cheers for the masked super soldiers. In NYC and worldwide, thousands of Flag-Smashers supporters remained steadfast in their beliefs. This is so despite the death of Kari Morgenthau. Advocating for universal genocide may sound depressing. However, it’s understandable that Thanos has gained cult status among those who benefited from the Mad Titan’s atrocities and then saw their fortunes plummet after the Avengers brought back the bodies of those he killed.

When Clint Barton visits New York, he keeps running into “Thanos Was Right.” This phrase reminds the MCU heroes that not everyone is appreciative of their efforts to save the world. Seeing “Thanos Was Right” written all over New York City shows the disturbing schism within the MCU’s population. This is true even if many people thank Clint personally for defeating Thanos there. “Thanos Was Right” is only a tiny part of Hawkeye’s background. Nonetheless, it adds to the fracturing of the MCU that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier started in Phase 4. There is no easy way to dissuade those who believe “Thanos Was Right.”