Dropped Pants and Whole Lot of Swagger: Look Inside Mark Wahlberg’s Iconic Calvin Klein Skivvies Deal and Its Impact in 2025

Published 07/25/2025, 12:33 PM EDT

In the glitzy chaos of Hollywood, few stars have flipped the script quite like Mark Wahlberg. From gritty rap beginnings to commanding roles on the big screen, he carved out a career packed with versatility and grit. With a sharp eye for business, he built an empire that extends far beyond film. His journey is a masterclass in reinvention. But long before the awards and real estate deals, Wahlberg struck a bold deal, and it involved dancing in skivvies.

A deep dive into Mark Wahlberg's legendary Calvin Klein skivvies deal and discover how its bold legacy still leaves a mark on pop culture and fashion in 2025.

The lasting impact of Mark Wahlberg’s Calvin Klein campaign

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Mark Wahlberg first showcased his athletic build in the 'Good Vibrations' music video and then in a groundbreaking Calvin Klein underwear campaign shot by Herb Ritts in 1992, followed by memorable TV commercials. This campaign, featuring Kate Moss alongside Wahlberg, transformed men’s underwear advertising and challenged traditional ideas of masculinity. His confident runway dance became iconic, inspiring a new generation of performers, including Justin Bieber. The bold imagery sparked discussions about body image and fashion, making underwear a statement piece beyond the bedroom.

Building on that groundbreaking moment, Calvin Klein’s legacy continued to evolve with a new wave of stars embracing the brand’s daring aesthetic. In 2025, celebrities like Kendall Jenner, A$AP Rocky, and Shawn Mendes proudly sport Calvin Klein underwear, keeping the bold spirit alive. From Jeremy Allen White to Greta Lee, each campaign fuses star power with raw authenticity, proving that Calvin Klein’s influence on fashion and culture remains as powerful and provocative as ever. Wahlberg’s cultural influence stretches far beyond fashion, sparking curiosity about his surprising ties to other iconic ’90s acts, like the Backstreet Boys.

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Before Hollywood stardom, an unexpected connection almost linked Mark Wahlberg with the Backstreet Boys, revealing a surprising chapter in his journey that few fans know about.

Mark Wahlberg’s lesser-known chapter involving the Backstreet Boys

Mark Wahlberg was never part of the Backstreet Boys, but an intriguing family connection links him to the famous boy band. His older brother, Donnie Wahlberg, gained fame as a member of New Kids on the Block, one of the earliest boy bands to achieve massive success. Donnie Wahlberg’s achievements and influence inspired Lou Pearlman to form the Backstreet Boys, creating an indirect but meaningful tie between the Wahlberg family and the group behind hits like 'I Want It That Way.'

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Donnie Wahlberg played a pivotal role in launching Mark Wahlberg’s musical journey, guiding him from a troubled past into the limelight through their collaboration on Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. The Blue Bloods actor later helped form NKOTBSB, a boy band supergroup blending members from New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys, which toured globally in 2011. As Wahlberg’s classic pairing with Tom Holland recently gained renewed attention, so did the bold Calvin Klein campaign that once redefined his image, and continues to echo through pop culture today.

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What do you think about Mark Wahlberg’s iconic Calvin Klein moment? Let us know in the comments below.

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Yusra Miraj Khan

749 articles

Yusra Miraj Khan is an Entertainment Journalist at Netflix Junkie. Specializing in Taylor Swift and the British Royal Family, she transforms modern mythologies into high-ranking, reader-first narratives. Since joining in early 2025, Khan has penned over 500 articles, known for their sharp decoding of Easter eggs and PR silences.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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