Dark Secrets The Wahlberg Family Tried To Hide

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The following article includes allegations of hate crimes and mentions of addiction.

Boasting an A-lister who somehow managed to transition from an underwear-flashing pop rapper to a credible Oscar-nominated thespian, a member of one of the biggest boy bands of all time, and several other successful actors, producers, and entrepreneurs, the Wahlbergs are one of modern Hollywood's most impressive dynasties. But the family of nine children that gave us "The Departed" star Mark Wahlberg and New Kids on the Block heartthrob Donnie Wahlberg are also one of the most troubled.

Indeed, the Wahlberg family history is littered with various crimes and misdemeanors, ranging from arson and armed robbery to assault and even attempted murder. Apart from their lengthy rap sheet, the Boston clan has also sparked controversies involving everything from gender pay gap disputes and shady business practices to supermodel body shaming and remarkably insensitive claims about the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.

Mark Wahlberg's rap sheet started accumulating in 1986 at the age of 15 in two separate incidents that took place just a day apart. First, Wahlberg and three of his pals chased three young Black kids while throwing rocks in their direction and screaming racial epithets at them. Then, the future Hollywood star encouraged another group of Caucasian men to do the same to a group of 9 and 10-year-old Black children on a school trip at the beach.

The "Boogie Nights" actor and his fellow perpetrators weren't convicted of either offenses, but instead given a civil rights injunction by a Boston judge. This essentially served as a warning that they'd face prison time if they were found guilty of committing any further hate crimes. In 2015, one of the kids Wahlberg and his gang targeted at the beach, Kristyn Atwood, told AP (via The Washington Post) that she still bears the pain and trauma of that day. "I was really scared. My heart was beating fast. I couldn't believe it was happening," she recalled. "The names. The rocks. The kids chasing."

Two years after being issued a civil rights injunction, Mark Wahlberg broke it in astonishingly violent style. In 1988, the "Planet of the Apes" actor seemingly went on the warpath while reportedly under the influence of PCP, attacking not just one but two Vietnamese men in separate incidents.

First, Wahlberg knocked Thanh Lam unconscious with a 5-foot wooden stick while shouting expletives, according to court documents, and attempting to steal beer from him. Later that very same day, he punched Hoa Trinh, a military veteran, in the eye, once again using racist slurs while doing so.

Although Wahlberg escaped prison for the first offense — instead receiving the civil rights injunction — he was given a three-month sentence for the 1988 incidents, for which the charges were reduced from attempted murder to felony assault. The future Oscar nominee, who later insisted that neither attack had been racially motivated, served just 45 days in jail before being released.

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.

Despite serving 45 days in jail for felony assault, Mark Wahlberg didn't appear to learn his lesson. Wahlberg once again found himself in trouble with the law in 1992 when he got into a fight with a neighbor that left the latter with a fractured jaw.

According to court documents, Wahlberg repeatedly kicked Robert Crehan in the face "without provocation or cause" at a nearby tennis court as Crehan was being pinned on the ground by Wahlberg's reported bodyguard and friend, Derek McCall. The pair was subsequently charged with various offenses, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. But after both parties settled a civil suit out of court, the criminal trial was dropped.

Wahlberg insisted that on this occasion, he was an innocent man. "People will do anything for money," he told the press at the time (via UPI). "I didn't have anything to do with the altercation. I was present, but I didn't take part." The Hollywood favorite also argued that he was targeted because of his high profile.

In the summer of 1993, Madonna's spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg revealed that Mark Wahlberg — who was then more famous for being rapper Marky Mark than a serious actor — had gotten into a fight with members of the Material Girl's entourage. The surprisingly forgotten incident between Wahlberg and Madonna reportedly began w