OPINION: Mark Wahlberg Is Stepping Back From Hollywood But He Shouldn’t Have Been Allowed In

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I was recently sifting my way through the eons of entertainment news when one headline popped out. There, on the front page of a big Aussie news site, was a puff piece about how Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg was stepping back from the limelight. 

I love a bit of celebrity gossip or feel-good stories, but I have no time for Mark Wahlberg fluff in my life. With the star’s sordid past – including his use of racial slurs and carrying out hate crimes as a teen – I’m wondering why he was let into Hollywood in the first place? 

Somehow, he’s managed to have a long and successful acting career, racking up 79 acting credits on IMDB – in films like The Fighter and The Departed – and has five projects yet to be released in 2024. He’s won a BAFTA, been nominated for multiple Emmys and Academy Awards and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He’s opened his own restaurant chain with his brothers – Wahlburgers – which can be found in Byron Bay, Manly, Sydney and Surfers Paradise. 

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The Wahlberg siblings starred in a reality TV show called Wahlburgers focused on their burger chain. Image credit: A+E Entertainment, Wahlburgers

Sure, he was younger when he committed the atrocious hate crimes, but where do we draw the line? Hollywood is known for turning a blind eye to extremely problematic things (Harvey Weinstein, I’m looking at you) because making money takes precedence. 

If you’re not familiar with what happened, let me catch you up. Please note that I’m going to recount violent crimes with racial slurs here, so if this is triggering for you, you might want to stop reading. 

What were Mark Wahlberg’s hate crimes?

Mark was first charged with violating the civil rights of three victims in 1986 when he was 15. The Bostonian, along with three friends, chased their Black victims while throwing rocks and yelling: “Kill the n*****s”. The group weren’t given jail time, but a civil rights injunction was served, meaning that they would be jailed if they continued to commit hate crimes. 

In 1988, Mark attacked and injured two Vietnamese men Thanh Lam and Johnny Trinh while also using racist slurs. He was high on the drug PCP at the time and knocked Thanh out cold with a wooden stick, before punching Johnny in the eye. He called Thanh a “Vietnam f***ing s***” and officers reported that he used a number of other racial slurs during the attack.  

Due to the civil rights injunction that was placed on the actor, he was sentenced to two years in prison, though he only ended up serving a measly 45 days. 

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Mark Wahlberg in Mile 22. Image credit: STX Entertainment, Mile 22

Did Mark Wahlberg try to clear his name?

In 2014, Mark sought to get his 1988 attack expunged from his record, which was met with criticism.

Kristyn Atwood, who was one of the students pelted with rocks in 1986, wasn’t impressed by Mark’s move to clear his name. “I don’t really care who he is. It doesn’t make him any exception,” she told the Associated Press. “If you’re a racist, you’re always going to be a racist. And for him to want to erase it, I just think it’s wrong.”

One of Mark’s Vietnamese victims, Trinh, had a different opinion. “He was young and reckless but I forgive him now. Everyone deserves another chance. I would like to see him get a pardon. He should not have the crime hanging over him any longer,” he told the Daily Mail. 

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He recently starred in Uncharted alongside Tom Holland. Image credit: Sony, Uncharted

So why would Mark bring attention back to his awful past and apply to have his record cleared? The Hollywood Reporter linked his actions back to his cookie-cutter burger chain, Wahlburgers. He was worried about his criminal record affecting his ability to get a “consessionaire’s license” and it’s telling that by 2006, he still hadn’t apologised personally to any of his victims. 

At the time, he said he’d been “working extremely hard for the last 27 years… to try and better myself as a person”, but I’m still not convinced. Let’s look at how he used his fame and power in the ‘90s, when he had a rumoured feud with Madonna. It’s reported that he made a homophobic remark, before allegedly pushing a nightclub owner and punching talent agent Guy Oseary. 

In 2016, it was revealed that Mark’s petition to be pardoned for his hate crimes was closed, after the actor didn’t respond to a letter asking if he wanted to keep it open. 

Mark Wahlberg’s missing anti-racism PSA.

The musician’s gig as a Calvin Klein model in the ‘90s helped increase his celebrity, but the CAAAV (Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence) called the brand out for ignoring his previous hate crimes. After the CAAAV carried out a big campaign, including printing out orange bumper stickers reading “Marky Mark – Convicted Racist” to stick over CK campaign billboards and posters, his publicist was forced to act.

 

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His team provided a statement apologising for his past hate crimes, stating: “In 1986, I harassed a group of school kids on a field trip. Many of the students were African-American. In 1988, I assaulted two Vietnamese men over a case of beer. Racist slurs and language were used during these encounters. And people were seriously hurt. I am truly sorry for what I did.” 

Mark’s publicist promised that he’d be fronting an anti-racist PSA, but that never happened. 

The controversy surrounding Mark Wahlberg and Everything Everywhere All at Once. 

Everything Everywhere All at Once was a massive success, sweeping awards left, right and centre and it was a true moment for Asian-American representation. But the choice to have Mark present the Screen Actors Guild award to the cast? That was embarrassing. The guy has a violent anti-Asian history and fans labelled the decision as “out of touch” and “sinister”. 

 

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Is public opinion turning against Mark Wahlberg?

There’s always people in the comments claiming that Mark has changed, so his past should be left buried. While I hope that he’s changed, I still don’t understand why he’s been allowed to have such a prominent media career. The fact that he didn’t seek out his victims to apologise for decades and tried to get the charges wiped from his record makes it seem like he hasn’t registered the seriousness of his crimes. 

I also don’t think Mark is that great of an actor and he’s not a major box office draw. So, where’s the appeal? 

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Mark Wahlberg starred alongside Will Ferrell in The Other Guys. Image credit: Sony, The Other Guys

In an interview with The Guardian, when the reporter brought up his violent past in 2020, he seemed to focus on how the attacks have affected his life rather than the people he’s hurt. “I made a lot of terrible mistakes and I paid for those mistakes dearly,” he said. Is he referring to the 45 days in prison? Because it sure looks like it didn’t affect his career.

I’m going to guess that his victims, like Kristyn, carry more baggage after the attack than he does. The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies recently revealed that 68% of people who are victims of hate crimes or hate speech experience PTSD symptoms. 

Mark also claimed in that same interview that his violent past allowed him to play roles more authentically, which is gross. “The one thing I have to my advantage is that I have all this real life experience that I can apply to my work. I think audiences can definitely sense authenticity. But that came with a real price,” he told the reporter. 

It’s time for a #MarkWahlbergIsOverParty, and I’d like this one to stick.

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, 24-hour support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.

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Image credits: Warner Bros, The Departed, Fox, The Happening, STX Entertainment, Mile 22, A+E Networks, Wahlburgers, Sony, Uncharted, The Other Guys