Mark Wahlberg clarifies: he regrets ‘Boogie Nights’ because he has a family now

Premiere Of Paramount Pictures' 'Daddy's Home 2'

Here are some photos from the premiere of Daddy’s Home 2, the sequel to the popular (?) comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell. To be fair, Will and Mark did seem to get along really well, and while I never saw the first film, it seemed like PG “family entertainment” about the testy relationship between a bad-boy father (Wahlberg) and the more straight-and-narrow stepfather (Ferrell). The sequel features the grandfathers, with John Lithgow playing Ferrell’s father and Mel Gibson playing Wahlberg’s father. Wahlberg happily posed on the red carpet with Mel, who has a lengthy history of saying anti-Semitic and racist bullsh-t, not to mention Mel’s history of physically abusing his now ex-girlfriend.

When thinking about his regrets in life, Mark Wahlberg rarely thinks about all of the hate crimes he’s committed or the violent, racist a–holes he’s chosen to work with. No, his biggest regret was apparently Boogie Nights, the film that made him a star and a “proper actor.” Wahlberg said that a few weeks ago, at a Catholic Church event, that his biggest regret is Boogie Nights. His former Boogie Nights costars Julianne Moore and William H. Macy basically told him to STFU, and now Wahlberg is “clarifying” his original remarks.

Mark Wahlberg doesn’t regret his role in Boogie Nights — but don’t ask him to take a raunchy role like that again. The 46-year-old actor admitted to a few missteps in his film career during an interview with the Chicago Inc on Friday.

“I just always hope that God is a movie fan and also forgiving because I’ve made some poor choices in my past,” he said, adding that Boogie Nights was one film that came to mind.

The actor clarified his comment to PEOPLE, saying that he hopes The Man Upstairs has a sense of humor.

“I was sitting in front of a couple of thousand kids talking about and trying to encourage them to come back to their faith, and I was just saying that I just hope he has a sense of humor because I maybe made some decisions that may not be okay with him,” Wahlberg said at the premiere of Daddy’s Home 2 on Sunday night. The actor added that the conversation began with a question about if he would take a similar type of role now, but his family — wife Rhea Durham and their four children — is a consideration.

“I don’t know if that would make my wife all that comfortable,” he said.

Wahlberg continued, “So, I don’t want to compromise my artistic integrity or choices based on my faith or my family, but I also have other things to consider, and being a little bit older and a little wiser, the idea of having to explain that movie and the reason behind it to my kids is another issue.”

[From People]

First of all, if you’re sitting in front of a group of lapsed (??) Catholic kids, why would you even make a Boogie Nights reference at all? By name-checking the movie, you’re basically encouraging children to seek out the film, because they probably hadn’t even heard of it before that moment. Like, ask your 10-year-old if they’ve seen Boogie Nights or even heard of it. I bet they haven’t. Mark’s clarification makes zero sense, honestly – it’s not like he’s only making family-friendly, churchy movies these days. He makes more family films than he used to, granted, but he still does violent films, he still does profane and obscene films (Ted and Ted 2), he still does dark dramas which aren’t meant for children. So why Boogie Nights again? Because it’s about S-E-X OMG SHUT YOUR EARHOLES.

Film Premiere Daddys Home 2

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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22 Responses to “Mark Wahlberg clarifies: he regrets ‘Boogie Nights’ because he has a family now”

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  1. KBB says:

    I think God is side-eyeing his cozying up to Mel Gibson more than some movie he did 20 years ago.

  2. Hella says:

    What hate crimes???

  3. jess1632 says:

    But ted somehow still passes?? Hmmm

    • mia girl says:

      The Ted movie is a thousand times more raunchy and inappropriate to his faith than Boogie Nights. At a minimum and getting Christian specific, the movie uses God’s name in vain a ton of times. It literally says “Jesus H F**k” in like the first 2 minutes!

      I love Paul Thomas Anderson movies, especially Boogie Nights. It is not a sex-filled romp, its actually a movie about the dark side of the porn/entertainment industry. And it is without a doubt the best movie Wahlberg has been in. I don’t get it. Is it because he showed a prosthetic penis?

      To add, if he’s going to be embarrassed about a movie, Rock Star would be at the top of my list.

  4. littlemissnaughty says:

    Why are later-in-life-Catholics (and members of other faiths) always so annoying? It’s like they have to be especially devout and holier-than-thou to make up for lost time or something.

    I still don’t understand how the man has the career he has. Boggles the mind.

    • Millenial says:

      He’s the worst. I could understand if he were more remorseful for his violent hate crimes, but he’s not. He also didn’t get around to marrying his wife while she was preggo with baby #3 and then acts like he is the most Catholic-y person to ever Catholic, hiding behind his big family. Please, bro.

  5. Neelyo says:

    ‘So, I don’t want to compromise my artistic integrity or choices based on my faith or my family…’

    Mark Wahlberg, artistic integrity????? Best laugh I’ve had so far today.

  6. Frosty says:

    May the Lord forgive your use of a stunt dong, Mark.

  7. erin says:

    just here to remind everyone that this piece of shit blinded a man because he was vietnamese and idc how long ago it happened. he should be asking god for forgiveness for THAT, not some bad movies he did.

    • Originaltessa says:

      That story is haunting. That poor man. Mark wanted to get himself pardoned and have it erased from his record. He should be devoting his life to this man and atoning for his hatred, not worried about scandalizing kids from his movie choices.

    • Cakes says:

      Actually, Wahlburg did not blind the guy. He was already blind.

      Simple Google search, folks.

      Also, really, really horrible that he beat the guy up. But he didn’t cause his sight loss.

  8. Lizzie says:

    give me a fuggin break

  9. MousyB says:

    I’m really confused by this whole ‘godly man’ image change for him. Its so strange and contradicts almost every single project he’s done – not just Boogie NIghts…like who tf is buying this???

  10. milla says:

    Marky Mark is always trashy and nope, we didn’t forget your past. Especially crimimal one

  11. SF says:

    He regrets an intelligent, mature movie he made 15 years ago but he doesn’t regret starring with and smiling alongside a known racist, violent sexist and longtime anti-Semite in a movie that is insultingly plotless and stupid?

    Got it.

  12. Tiffany says:

    And didn’t he and Rhea have two children before they got married.

    I think he targeted Boogie Nights for a reason. Maybe he wanted to work with Anderson again and Anderson was all,’ Marky Mark, I gotta call you back, Daniel Day Lewis is on the other line’.

  13. Nancy says:

    I’d regret Rock Star more. Not good. He was good in The Lovely Bones, which wasn’t his typical genre, just a father who lost a child. I have no hate for Mark.

  14. happyoften says:

    Not going to lie, I enjoy MW, generally. I think he does solid work. The fighter was so well done, and The Other Guys is one of my all time favorite comedies.

    That said, MW doesn’t strike me as a deep thinker. There are so. many. choices. he’s made that I would consider regrettable. So very many. Boggie Nights shouldn’t be on his list. And certainly not because of Jesus.

  15. Jenn says:

    I get what he’s saying. The porn industry is a pretty dark and seedy place. Explaining that film to young kids is gonna be a little tricky.
    I didn’t find “Boogie Nights” to be terribly thoughtful either. It was more stylish and nostalgic than delving into anything about the exploitive or darker side of the porn industry. Honestly it played to a lot of male fantasy.

    But in other news yah I wish Wahlberg would give that man he blinded a lot of $$$ now that he’s got it.

  16. turtlebaby says:

    Mark is so so so dumb.

  17. Marie says:

    I am pretty sure the reference to “kids” was referring to people much younger than him and not actual children. Typically Catholic children aren’t lapsing or questioning their faith that early on — they are still in CCD prepping for first communion, reconciliation, etc.