Familial relationships can be complicated and this is no different for high-profile celebrities as well. While internal politics between family members escape public scrutiny if one is an ordinary person, big-league Hollywood stars do not have the luxury of privacy when it comes to family feuds, be it rumors or otherwise.
A few years ago, actor Mark Wahlberg was at the center of a controversy surrounding his relationship with his brother Donnie Wahlberg. The immediate elder sibling of the Oscar winner also began his career in music like his brother as a member of the band, New Kids On the Block. His marriage to actor Jenna McCarthy in 2014 made the news mainly for the conspicuous absence of his famous brother Mark, thereby sparking rumors about a feud between the siblings.
Was There A Rift Between Mark Wahlberg And His Brother?
The relationship between siblings can sway between being meaningful to complex based on the experiences shared together. Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg was in the center of major public scrutiny in 2014 when he failed to show up for his brother Donnie Wahlberg’s wedding to Scary Movie star Jenna McCarthy. Known to share a close bond with his brother in business and outside of it, Wahlberg’s absence at such a close familial event caused the rumor mills to work overtime, with fans speculating on the various reasons behind his decision.
Some unconfirmed theories hinted at the possibility that both the Wahlbergs’ wives did not see eye to eye, which allegedly prompted the Boogie Nights star to take his wife’s side by giving the wedding a miss. A 2016 interview in which Wahlberg talked about his relationship with his brother added further fuel to the fire. In a candid chat with People, the Shooter star spoke about the different paths the siblings were on. The words he used though, were given a very different spin by viewers.
“Obviously we’re brothers and partners in business and our relationship is fine, but it’s different. We’ve grown so far apart, just through work and career and things that are important.”
While these rumors regarding Wahlberg’s relationship with his brother reached a crescendo, the Oscar nominee put an end to all the speculative reports by revealing that he was unable to attend the wedding owing to his daughter’s 11th birthday. Sending heartfelt wishes to his brother and McCarthy, Wahlberg put out a warm tweet regretting his absence.
Mark Wahlberg And His Brother Are Sibling Goals
As it turned out, the wildly speculative reports about a feud between Mark Wahlberg and his brother Donnie were much ado about nothing. The Transformers star’s elder sibling has been an integral part of his life while growing up as the two youngest members of the family. From beginning their careers in music to becoming business partners with the Wahlbergers chain of restaurants, the brothers have leaned on each other through success and failure.
While Mark Wahlberg has gone on record to say that he was closest to Donnie among his 9 siblings, the latter returned the favor with an emotional tribute to the bond he shared with The Fighter star in an interview with People in 2018. Reminiscing about their personal and professional journey together, he said,
“I’m probably the closest person to Mark in his entire life and vice versa since we were kids. We literally spent every moment together of our childhood up until our late teen years so to see how close we’re getting in the show [Wahlburgers] and to see some of the frustrations come out, it’s really powerful to watch for me.”
There’s no love like brotherly love, and Mark and Donnie Wahlberg have proved that their bond is unbreakable amidst various speculations about feuds coming in the way of their relationship.
