Actor Mark Wahlberg believes “out of touch” celebrities should stick to entertaining Americans and stop trying to push their politics on the country.

Mark Wahlberg (Credit: YouTube)

Mark Wahlberg opened up about his beliefs on celebrities in the political arena while attending a press event to promote one of his films. “A lot of celebrities did, do, and shouldn’t [talk about politics],” Wahlberg told Task & Purpose, a news and analysis outlet geared toward American service veterans.

While discussing the parade of actors and musicians who lined up to denounce President Donald Trump during the days leading up to his election, Wahlberg let loose. “You know, it just goes to show you that people aren’t listening to that anyway. They might buy your CD or watch your movie, but you don’t put food on their table. You don’t pay their bills,” Wahlberg declared. “A lot of Hollywood is living in a bubble. They’re pretty out of touch with the common person, the everyday guy out there providing for their family.”

“Lone Survivor” scene with Mark Wahlberg (Credit: Lone Survivor/YouTube)

“Me, I’m very aware of the real world,” Wahlberg added. “I come from the real world and I exist in the real world. And although I can navigate Hollywood and I love the business and the opportunities it’s afforded me, I also understand what it’s like not to have all that.”

Wahlberg is certainly no stranger to politically-charged movie roles. He played former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell in Lone Survivor (2013) and Mike Williams, an oil rig worker and survivor of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, in Deepwater Horizon (2016). He also played Sgt. Tommy Saunders, an officer responding to the bombing of the Boston Marathon, in Patriots Day (2017).

“Patriots Day” scene with Mark Wahlberg (Credit: Patriots Day/YouTube)

Wahlberg’s affection for the men and women in blue is one of Patriots Day’s most unabashedly consistent through-lines. Real-life law-enforcement officers were cast in the film, including one tough female cop. “She was so badass,” said Wahlberg, who cast her after she was assigned to escort him out of Boston’s Logan Airport. “She would act as if I was the president of the United States. And she would act like, if anybody was going to mess with me, they were going to go through her first. She was Boston Strong.”

Wahlberg also stated that he loves to make films that “bring people together.” The Departed star explained the best films are those that “give people an added boost and a reminder of what a great country we do have and how amazing people are. People really dedicated their lives to serving our country and our communities, and we need to honor that. The overall purpose of police and military is protect us. It’s an amazing thing, and every chance I get I want to thank them for their service.”

Marcus Luttrell, the real-life soldier upon which Lone Survivor is based (left), Mark Wahlberg, who portrayed Luttrell in the film (right) (Credit: YouTube)

The Lone Survivor star has also been vocal about his Catholic faith. “My Catholic faith is the anchor that supports everything I do in life,” he said. “In my daily prayers, I ask for guidance, strength in my vocation as a husband and as a father.” The veteran actor also told the Today show that his relationship with God impacts his life, but he doesn’t force it on anyone, from his family to fellow Hollywood actors.

“I will not hide the fact that I love the Lord and I want to be committed to serving the Lord, but I also don’t jam it down anybody’s throat,” Wahlberg stated. “I don’t take a day off from getting on my hands and my knees and reading my prayer book and my daily devotionals and, first of all, expressing the gratitude that I have for all the blessings that have been bestowed upon me.” The Boston native added that when people are interested, he openly shares his faith with them: “There are people that I’m close to that I will send devotionals to and try to encourage them.”