Why So Many People Dislike Mark Wahlberg

In 1986, a 15-year-old Mark Wahlberg was hanging out at Dorchester, Massachusetts’ Savin Hill Beach with some friends. After coming across a group of younger Black students who were heading back to their bus during a field trip, his crew verbally and physically attacked them with racist slurs and rocks, per The Guardian. While a nearby ambulance driver thankfully put a stop to things before the incident could escalate further, a civil rights injunction was later slapped onto Wahlberg’s soon-to-be-growing rap sheet — meaning that he’d spend time behind bars should he be found guilty of a similar crime in the future.

Speaking with AP News (via The Guardian) decades later, some of the victims recalled the traumatic experience. One of the students, Kristyn Atwood, stated, “It was a hate crime. And that’s exactly what should be on [Wahlberg’s] record forever.” Meanwhile, teacher Mary Belmonte noted, “I was really scared. My heart was beating fast. I couldn’t believe it was happening. The names. The rocks. The kids chasing.”

For his part, Wahlberg explained to Vanity Fair in 2011 that his actions were those of a lost, unsupported teen who spent his time drinking, using illicit substances, and skipping school to hang around with the wrong crowd — all things that led him to act violently and make decisions he wasn’t proud of. If that had been the end of his racist attacks, people might have been more forgiving, given the tough circumstances of his childhood. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be the case.

If you or a loved one has experienced a hate crime, contact the VictimConnect Hotline by phone at 1-855-4-VICTIM or by chat for more information or assistance in locating services to help. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).