A rumor circulating online in December 2024 claimed that actor Mark Wahlberg refused a high-paying role in a Disney project due to his political beliefs. For example, a Dec. 11, 2024, post (archived) by the Facebook page True Freedom News read:
Mark Wahlberg Sparks Controversy by Refusing $2 Billion Disney Proposal Due to "Wokeness".
(Facebook page True Freedom News)
Some social media users seemed to interpret the rumor as a factual recounting of real-life events. For instance, one Facebook user commented (archived): "Nice to see Hollywood folks standing up for morals." Another wrote (archived): "A man of integrity. Great to see it!"
However, there was no credible evidence of Wahlberg ever making a public statement with the alleged phrasing. A Google search for the terms "Mark Wahlberg," "Disney," and "wokeness" found no reputable news stories about the claim.
Rather, the rumor about Wahlberg turning down a $2 billion Disney project originated with September 2024 posts by Esspots.com (archived) and its affiliated Facebook page SpaceX Fanclub (archived) — both of which describe their output as satirical in nature. Esspots.com's "About Us" page (archived) stated:
Welcome to the US page of Esspots (A Subsidiary of SpaceXMania.com specializing in Satire and Parody News), your one-stop destination for satirical news and commentary about the United States of America. Our team of writers and editors is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in fake news and absurdity, all with a healthy dose of humor and satire.
SpaceX Fanclub's Facebook post with the rumor included similar disclaimers, as seen below. A badge in the upper left corner of the meme, surrounded by a yellow box below, read: "RATED SATIRE." Text in the upper right corner, surrounded by a red box, read:
NOTHING ON THIS PAGE IS REAL
IF YOU BELIEVE ANYTHING WE POST
THEN YOU'RE POTATO CROP
(Facebook page SpaceX Fanclub)
Esspots.com and its associated SpaceX Fanclub Facebook page, both of which are part of the SpaceXMania network of websites and social media accounts, have a history of making up stories for shares and comments, many of which Snopes has covered in the past.
Snopes has previously addressed similar claims about actors supposedly turning down high-budget Disney projects, including the assertion that Sylvester Stallone rejected a $500 million "woke" movie offer and a rumor that Denzel Washington declined a $50 million project, saying the company was "just too woke."
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.