Mark Wahlberg: I Don't Feel Entitled to Have My Crimes Pardoned
"I've been working very hard to correct a lot of mistakes that I made," he said.
— -- When Mark Wahlberg petitioned to have his 1988 crimes pardoned last month, some accused him of exploiting his celebrity for personal gain.
Not true, the actor said.
"In no way shape or form was I trying to use my celebrity or success to say, ‘Well, I feel entitled to get this because of the fame and fortune," Wahlberg told the Associated Press, via Boston.com. "Every day I wake up trying to be the best person I can be."
Wahlberg, now 43, attacked two men one night in 1988, punching one so hard that he lost sight in one eye. As a result, the actor was charged with several crimes, including assault and battery. He has since asked to be pardoned, explaining that his record has made it difficult for him to obtain a concessionaire's license in California and work with law enforcement, which he'd like to do.
"Everyone has an opinion and has a reason why they think I'm doing it," the "Gambler" star noted. "I've been working very hard to correct a lot of mistakes that I made since the day that I woke up and realized, 'You know what? I need to be a leader instead of a follower.'"
Now, the "Fighter" star, who cited his charity work in his petition as proof that he's changed, said that he enjoys being a role model for his kids and others. And while he filed his paperwork in Massachusetts where pardons are seldom issued, Wahlberg vowed to continue to give back even if his petition is denied.
"I've worked really hard to be a positive influence for kids growing up in communities like mine who don’t really have a chance, and try to provide an opportunity for them to be more successful and that’s why I'm doing it," he said. "I will continue to do that whether the pardon is granted or not."