MARK WAHLBERG: Pardon Request Is to Help Kids

Mark Wahlberg was on the Today show this morning to talk about his new movie The Gambler, but also to clear up some rumors.

The Massachusetts native has petitioned the state's parole board to have his 1988 assault conviction pardoned. He served time in jail and says it was that experience which made him want to turn his life around. He says he wants the pardon so that he can show other troubled kids that they too can turn their lives around.

But some people have been skeptical of his motives. Some say he's just using his celebrity to clear his record. There have been other reports suggesting he's trying to get the felony wiped away because he wants to become a reservist in the Los Angeles Police Department. Wahlberg says his celebrity has nothing to do with it and he's never applied to join the LAPD. He says, "People have said because of my celebrity and my success, that I'm basically waving that magic wand but it's not about that. I've been committed to turning my life around and becoming a productive person in the community."

Wahlberg says whether he's granted the pardon or not, he'll continue to work on helping troubled kids turn their lives around.