The early days of Mark Wahlberg are all fun and games, but one particularly sad and upsetting incident remains on his formal record. In April of 1988 in Dorchester, Mass., an intoxicated 16-year-old Wahlberg beat a Vietnamese immigrant unconscious with a wooden stick then hurled racial epithets at another before hitting him in the face, an injury that would ultimately cause him to go blind in his right eye. Wahlberg served 45 days in jail, and the incident has undoubtedly played a huge role in shaping his adult life.
Now, Wahlberg believes it should be expunged from his record, and he has petitioned Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick in order to get himself pardoned.
In his application, Wahlberg says that “I want people to remember my past so that I can serve as an example of how lives can be turned around and how people can be redeemed.” OK, but how does eliminating a serious crime from your record help with that? How can people remember your past if you delete it?
He also cites what is probably the real reason he’s doing it: having a conviction such as his on his record prevents him from getting permits to work on his movies and other business ventures. While it’s nice and all to help the kids, it somehow always comes down to money doesn’t it?
[via The Week]
