Mark Wahlberg and SAG Awards criticized for actor presenting award to Asian cast after committing hate crimes

At the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday night, the film “Everything Everywhere All At Once” took home a record number of awards, but when Mark Wahlberg presented the mainly Asian cast with the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, many questioned the choice of presenter. Wahlberg, 51, went to jail for committing hate crimes against two Asian men when he was 16 years old.

Wahlberg has said he apologized for the crimes “many times,” according to the Associated Press. Still, many people questioned on social media why he was chosen to deliver the award after committing several hate crimes.

“I gotta say, having Mark Wahlberg, who literally went to jail as a teen for committing a hate crime against a Vietnamese man, present an award to the cast of Everything Everywhere All At Once was certainly a choice,” tweeted Bonnie Stiernberg, managing editor at Inside Hook.

Some found it hypocritical that Will Smith suffered consequences after slapping Chris Rock at last year’s Academy Awards – and was banned from the Oscars – but Wahlberg was invited to present at this awards show. Smith was under disciplinary review from SAG, but the union did not comment further. 

“Will Smith ostracized while Mark Wahlberg get to present an award to an Asian cast,” tweeted Torraine Walker, founder of production company Context Media Group. 

Wahlberg has been nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category at the SAG Awards but has never won. He is not up for any film awards this season.