Fans are calling out Mark Wahlberg after he was cast in the upcoming movie ‘By Any Means’ – a film that deals with racism and bigotry. Many social media users are pointing out the irony of Wahlberg playing a role in a movie about fighting racism, given his own history of racially motivated attacks.
The film is set to release in theaters on September 4, 2026. But instead of excitement about the movie, the online conversation has mostly been about Wahlberg’s past and whether he should even be in this kind of film.
What ‘By Any Means’ Is About
‘By Any Means’ is a historical crime thriller directed by Elegance Bratton. The story takes place in 1960s Mississippi during the civil rights movement.
Mark Wahlberg plays Gregory Scarpa, a real-life mafia hitman. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as FBI agent Wayne Strider. The plot follows an FBI agent and a mafia killer who team up to investigate the murders of civil rights leaders in 1966 Mississippi.
The supporting cast includes Josh Lucas, LisaGay Hamilton, Giancarlo Esposito, Nicole Beharie, David Strathairn, Ethan Embry, and LaChanze.
The movie is inspired by true events and explores themes of racial tension, law enforcement, and organized crime during one of the most difficult periods in American history.
Why Fans Are Angry About Wahlberg’s Casting
The backlash started after people learned that Mark Wahlberg – who has a history of racially motivated violence – would be playing a lead role in a film about racism.
One social media user wrote on Threads:
“Putting mark wahlberg in a movie about racism and bigotry, sounds like a bio pic.”
Another person commented:
“They will put this racist in movies about racism, put Coke Smuggler Tim Allen in kids/Santa movies, and cast that rich cannibal dude as a love interest but will cancel and bar a Black person in a heartbeat for anything.”
Some users made sarcastic remarks about Wahlberg’s casting. One person wrote:
“He’s playing the racist? Easiest for him since he is one.”
Another fan said:
“From the moment I saw him in that movie, Fear, he did years ago, I knew he wasn’t right. It felt like he wasn’t acting, just tapping into his real persona.”
Others expressed confusion about why Hollywood keeps giving Wahlberg roles in movies about race.
“I’ve never understood why everybody forgets the horrendous things he did.”
Mark Wahlberg’s History of Racially Motivated Attacks
Mark Wahlberg has been convicted of hate crimes on two separate occasions. These incidents from his teenage years have resurfaced many times throughout his career.
1986 Incident: When Wahlberg was 15 years old, he and a group of white friends chased Black fourth-grade students in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. They threw rocks at the children and yelled racial slurs. A civil rights injunction was filed against him.
1988 Incident: When Wahlberg was 16, he attacked two Vietnamese-American men. He was high on PCP at the time. He attacked Thanh Lam, shouting racial slurs and knocking him unconscious with a five-foot wooden stick. He also punched Hoa Trinh in the eye while trying to hide from police.
According to a BBC report, Wahlberg used racial epithets during and after the attacks. He was found guilty of violating the civil rights of his victims. He served 45 days in jail for these crimes.
Wahlberg later apologized for his actions. In 2014, he filed an official request for a pardon, but it was not granted. He eventually withdrew the request.
Wahlberg’s Dramatic Transformation in the Film
While the backlash has been intense, there is another side to the ‘By Any Means’ conversation. Many people have been shocked by Mark Wahlberg’s physical transformation for the role.
The first trailer for ‘By Any Means’ debuted online and quickly gained millions of views. Fans struggled to recognize Wahlberg under the heavy makeup and prosthetics. He underwent extensive facial changes, including a redesigned nose, a heavier jawline, vintage hairstyles, and period-specific wardrobe.
Film fans have praised the makeup and prosthetics team for creating one of Wahlberg’s most convincing transformations.
Some fans reacted positively to his new look. One person wrote:
“Consider me officially ‘booked and busy’ the second this hits theaters!”
Another commented:
“going all Al Capone on this one! I’m in!”
However, others made jokes about his appearance. One user asked:
“Why the nose?”
The Irony That Fans Can’t Ignore
The main issue that fans keep bringing up is the irony of the situation. In ‘By Any Means,’ Mark Wahlberg plays a character who fights against racism. But in real life, Wahlberg has a documented history of racist violence.
One social media user pointed out:
“Me in the cinema when watching the trailer knowing his hate crime past actions.”
The film is set during the civil rights era and deals with serious issues of racial injustice. Many people feel that Wahlberg’s presence in the movie takes away from its message.
Others have argued that Mark Wahlberg is simply not the right choice for ‘By Any Means’ because of his real-life history.
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Release Date and Where to Watch
‘By Any Means’ is scheduled to hit theaters on September 4, 2026. The movie will be released by Paramount Pictures.
For global audiences, the release plan includes:
- USA: Theatrical release on September 4, 2026
- UK: Theatrical release expected around the same date
- Canada: Theatrical release on September 4, 2026
- Australia: Theatrical release expected in early September 2026
- India: Theatrical release expected around September 4, 2026
The final trailer for the film was released on August 14, 2026.
The movie has already generated significant attention, with the trailer getting more than 12 million views on YouTube in less than a day.
Keep reading VvipTimes for the latest updates on movie controversies and casting news.
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