When Mark Wahlberg was 16-years-old, he was involved in a racist incident where he attacked two Vietnamese men, allegedly blinding one of them in one eye with a punch in to the face, according to the NY Daily News.
Mark Wahlberg reportedly pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to a two-year prison term, but ended up only serving 45 days and “The Gambler” actor has brought the racist incident back to light after petitioning the Massachusetts Parole Board for a pardon related to his 1988 assault.
“I’ve worked extremely hard for the last 27 years since I woke up sober and realized the horrible mistakes I had made and the horrible pain I had caused so many people,” Wahlberg told the news outlet.
He added, “Every single day I try to better myself as a person.”
Mark Wahlberg is reportedly attempting to become a civilian volunteer with the LAPD, which is why he’s requesting for the pardon.
“This is not something I just decided to do overnight, two years later, well I’m a big celebrity so I should feel like I can do whatever I want,” Wahlberg told The Daily News.
He added, “No, I’ve worked really hard to be a better person and to be a good influence on kids growing up in situations like mine.”
One of the men that Mark Wahlberg attacked when he was a teenager has reportedly voiced his support for the 43-year-old actor, stating that he “deserves another chance.” The man, Johnny Trinh, has also reportedly clarified the reports regarding the incident, stating that Wahlberg did not poke his eye out with the punch, but that it was an old injury sustained while fighting U.S. forces in the Vietnam War, according to the Toronto Sun.
“I was not blinded by Mark Wahlberg. He did hurt me, but my left eye was already gone. He was not responsible for that,” Trinh told the U.K’s The Daily Mail.
Wahlberg’s recent request for a pardon has reportedly angered members of the Asian-American human rights group 18 Million Rising, who have launched a petition online appealing to Massachusetts state officials to deny Wahlberg’s request.
