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Mark Wahlberg on Boston Marathon Bombing: I Just Wanted to “Hug My Kids”

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Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg is counting his blessings in light of the Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people and injured more than 180 others. The hometown hero, 41, spoke about the tragedy during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live Tuesday, April 16.

"I just wanted to rush home today and hug my kids," the married father of four said. "It's a crazy world we're living in. It's horrible. It's horrible, man." (Wahlberg and wife Rhea Durham are parents to daughters Ella Rae and Grace and sons Michael and Brandon.)

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Wahlberg continued, "I just ask everyone to please pray for all the people in Boston and their families, and especially the Richards family." The former rapper and underwear model was referring to the relatives of 8-year-old Martin Richards, who was killed by the explosion.

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The incident hits close to home for Wahlberg, as he knew people competing in the marathon on April 15. "Everybody's okay, but we have some people that we know that were affected by it," he said. "We have to do everything we can to help those families. We obviously have to do everything we can to start protecting our women and children and people in our country. It's crazy."

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The action star first shared his sympathies at the Cinema Society screening of Pain & Gain in New York City April 15. "It's just so upsetting," he told Us Weekly. "Obviously I've got a huge family and so many family and friends back in Boston. I don't know what exactly happened, and I don't know if everyone's okay. I'm just trying to be here [at the screening] and put on a brave face and just be a professional."

He added, "The world obviously needs to change. If you think about all the events over the last couple years, if we can't protect our innocent women and children, then we have a serious problem."

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