Speaking with Fox’s Ainsley Earhard on Thursday, the conservative actor took aim at ‘cancel culture,’ dubbing it “like an early version of George Orwell’s 1984” which would have barred the 90s-era character from uttering his iconic slogan.

“I promise you that Superman – I wouldn’t today be allowed to say: ‘Truth, justice, and the American way,'” Cain said, responding to a recent op-ed in Time Magazine calling for a “re-examining” of how superheroes are portrayed on screen.

Cain’s take – which also involved heavy praise for police, who he called “heroes” in their own right – was quickly savaged online, making the actor’s name trend across Twitter. While some critics took shots at Cain’s praise for law enforcement, others challenged his claim about ‘cancel culture’ altogether, arguing that Captain America is still widely popular and has yet to be thrown down the memory hole.