Mark Wahlberg is not afraid to wear his faith on his forehead. Quite literally. Let’s delve into the day when Wahlberg boldly sported the symbol of Ash Wednesday on his forehead.
Now, we all know Mark Wahlberg for being one of Hollywood’s most prolific actors.
And he’s risen to levels of unprecedented fame since his first acting job in 1994.
Alongside acting, Wahlberg is also a producer and businessman…
And he received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame back in 2010.
So, there’s no denying he’s had an extremely successful professional life…
But behind the scenes, things haven’t always been so seemingly perfect.
In fact, the actor is certainly no stranger to controversy.
As a teenager, Wahlberg, who comes from a family of 9 siblings, dropped out of high school and quickly became embroiled in a life of crime.
By the age of thirteen, he was addicted to drugs…
And he got himself involved in drug dealing, stealing, and all-around violent behavior which would eventually lead to him serving time in prison at the age of sixteen.
He’s certainly led a very interesting life…
But sadly, the actor was caught up in some pretty bad antics as a teenager and a young man.
While living in Boston in the 1980s, Wahlberg was twice charged for race-related hate crimes, serving time in jail for one of the attacks.
In 2014, the actor attempted to seek pardon for one of the attacks and have it wiped from his criminal record.
Saying that while his celebrity should “in no way, shape or form” be a reason to grant it …
He hoped his recent actions would show that he had changed.
“I am deeply sorry for the actions that I took on the night of April 8th, 1988, as well as for any lasting damage that I may have caused the victims.
“Since that time, I have dedicated myself to becoming a better person and citizen so that I can be a role model to my children and others,” he wrote in his pardon application.
He later dropped this request in 2016 and in a 2020 interview with The Guardian, he explained that he had “done the work” to make things right.
“I took it upon myself to own up to my mistakes and go against the grain and not be a part of the gang anymore – to say that I was going to go and do my own thing,” he explained.
“[It] made it ten times more difficult to walk from my home to the train station, to go to school, to go to work.
“But I also prided myself on doing the right thing and turning my life around… I would hope that people would be able to get a second chance in life.”
During an appearance on Live! With Kelly and Ryan on Monday, Wahlberg claimed that he has “no authority” over his daughter.
“My 18-year-old, now I literally have no authority over her until she realizes she needs me financially,” he joked.
“She’s doing tattoos and all this stuff but she’s now really focused on academics, which is great.
“It took her a while to get there!” he said.
Wahlberg appeared on an episode of The Talk where he was asked about balancing a business empire while being a present father and husband.
“That is the biggest challenge,” he replied.
“Every free moment that I have, I’m at home,” Wahlberg added.
According to reports in Yahoo, the fifty-one-year-old Boston native explained how he wanted to build a “state-of-the-art studio” in Nevada and make it Hollywood 2.0.
Wahlberg also said he hopes to create “a shoe factory and a factory for Municipal,” the Sport Utility Gear apparel company he co-founded.
“I want to be able to work from home. I moved to California many years ago to pursue acting and I’ve only made a couple of movies in the entire time that I was there,” he continued.
“So, to be able to give my kids a better life and follow and pursue their dreams whether it be my daughter as an equestrian, my son as a basketball player, my younger son as a golfer, this made a lot more sense for us,” Wahlberg said.
Wahlberg and his wife, Rhea Durham, have 4 children.
“So, we came here to just kind of give ourselves a new look, a fresh start for the kids, and there’s lot of opportunity here. I’m really excited about the future,” Wahlberg concluded.
According to the media outlet, Wahlberg put his home in Los Angeles on the market for $87.5 million in April.
But that’s not all…
The Uncharted star revealed he recently “moved to Nevada.”
This was to give his family “a better life.”
Wahlberg has also recently opened up about his religion.
He recently appeared on TODAY on ash Wednesday, sporting his ash mark on his forehead.
Wahlberg opened up about what it means to be a Catholic.
“It’s a balance,” the 51-year-old actor said. “I don’t want to jam it down anybody’s throat.”
“But I do not deny my faith. That’s an even bigger sin.
“You know, it’s not popular in my industry, but I cannot deny my faith. It’s important for me to share that with people. But, I have friends from all walks of life and all different types of faiths and religions, so it’s important to respect and honor them as well.”
However, at this year’s SAG awards, Walberg ended up in yet another controversy.
It was all because Wahlberg was selected by SAG Awards to host the presentation to the predominately Asian cast of Everything Everywhere All at Once.
“I gotta say, having Mark Wahlberg, who literally went to jail as a teen for committing a hate crime against a Vietnamese man, present an award to the cast of Everything Everywhere All At Once was certainly a choice,” one viewer wrote on Twitter.
Another agreed: “They really had Mark Wahlberg whom got arrested for beating up a Vietnamese man a long time ago present best ensemble to an film with a lot of Chinese American actors in it.”
“Friendly reminder that Mark Wahlberg violently attacked two Vietnamese men and I think it is quite obtuse that he was the one to announce Everything Everywhere All At Once as the winner of the SAG award tonight,” offered a third.
And following all the drama, Wahlberg has opened up about moving his family from Hollywood to Nevada.
“It’s really giving the kids a chance to thrive,” he told Fox.
“It just has the best of both worlds. I know a lot of people, when they think Las Vegas, they think the Strip. But just about 15, 20 minutes away, there’s a whole lot of other amazing areas that are all about family and community.”
He says the move was “really about giving the kids an opportunity to pursue their goals and dreams.”
“My daughter’s an equestrian,” he added. “My son’s a golfer. My oldest daughter, now she’s off to college. My son’s a junior. There’s lots of opportunity here as well for me. We’re trying to create a studio. We’re trying to build a shoe factory. We want to create lots of jobs here.”
What do you think about the move?
An Unusual Sight in the Big Apple
It was a typical winter day in New York City. The temperatures hovered in the 40s, and the city was bustling as always.
But amidst the hustle and bustle, one sight stood out. On February 15th, 2024, a celebrity was spotted proudly wearing the Ash Wednesday cross on his forehead. And it was none other than Mark Wahlberg.
The Significance of Ash Wednesday
Before we delve further into Wahlberg’s public display of faith, let’s briefly touch upon the significance of Ash Wednesday.
This day marks the beginning of Lent, a period of 40 days leading up to Easter, observed by Christians worldwide. The ash cross on the forehead is a reminder of mortality and a sign of humility.
Wahlberg’s Morning on Good Morning America
Mark Wahlberg had made an appearance on Good Morning America that day.
As he stepped out of the studio, the handsome actor was seen interacting with fans and signing autographs. But what caught everyone’s attention was the ash cross on his forehead.
“Mark Wahlberg proudly dons an Ash Wednesday cross on his forehead as he steps out after Good Morning America appearance in New York City.”
A Valentine’s Tribute
Wahlberg’s Ash Wednesday appearance came just a day after he shared a sweet Valentine’s Day tribute to his wife, Rhea Durham.
The couple has been together for over a decade, and their love story is nothing short of a Hollywood movie.
Not a First for Wahlberg
This wasn’t the first time Mark Wahlberg made a public display of his faith. The actor is known for his deep Catholic faith, and he often shares his religious practices with his fans and followers.
From attending church services to posting faith-inspired messages on social media, Wahlberg has always been vocal about his belief.
The Reaction
As expected, Wahlberg’s bold display of faith elicited various reactions from the public.
Many applauded his courage to openly express his faith, while others were surprised to see such a display in the entertainment industry. But irrespective of the reactions, Wahlberg’s act was a strong statement of his religious belief.
Wahlberg’s Faith in His Words
In various interviews, Wahlberg has spoken about his faith and how it influences his life. He’s known to start his day with prayer and believes that his faith keeps him grounded.
“My faith is the most important aspect of my life. I pray every day and try to live my life in a way that is in line with my faith.”
The Bigger Picture
Wahlberg’s recent act is a testament to how celebrities can use their platform to express personal beliefs and influence societal norms. In an industry often criticized for its superficiality, Wahlberg’s display of faith is a refreshing change.