Actor Wahlberg sorry for ‘ridiculous’ 9/11 remark

ACTOR Mark Wahlberg has apologised for saying events may have turned out differently had he been on one of the planes that crashed on September 11, 2001, after incurring the wrath of critics and one victim’s widow.

“If I was on that plane with my kids, it wouldn’t have went down like it did. There would have been a lot of blood in that first-class cabin and then me saying, ‘OK, we’re going to land somewhere safely, don’t worry,’” the actor said in an interview with Men’s Journal magazine that was released this week.

Wahlberg, the 44-year-old star of movies such as The Fighter, was scheduled to be on one of the planes carrying 92 passengers that crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, and made the comments in that context.

However, after media outlets reported that a widow of one 9/11 victim called his comments “disrespectful”, the actor issued a formal apology.

“To speculate about such a situation is ridiculous to begin with, and to suggest I would have done anything differently than the passengers on that plane was irresponsible,” Wahlberg said.

“I deeply apologise to the families of the victims that my answer came off as insensitive, it was certainly not my intention.”

His comment was heavily criticised by Deena Burnett-Bailey, whose husband Tom was among a group of passengers who charged the cockpit in an attempt to retake the plane.

“The plan for Flight 93 was foiled by heroes. For him to speculate that his presence on board could have stopped everything is silly and disrespectful. Sounds like someone is grandstanding,” she said.

The Oscar-nominated actor, who started his career in music as rapper Marky Mark, is currently promoting Contraband, a high-octane action movie in which he plays a former smuggler forced to protect his brother-in-law.