Liam Neeson is the target of intense criticism following an interview with The Independent in which he claimed he had looked around for a “black b*****d” to “kill” after he learned somebody close to him had been raped by a black man.
Speaking to Clemence Michallon in an exclusive for The Independent, he discussed his new film Cold Pursuit and his character’s drive for violence.
At one point he reveals a “true story” about someone close to him who was raped. When the unnamed woman told him what happened, his immediate reaction, he revealed, was “did she know who it was? No. What colour were they? She said it was a black person".
He continued:
She handled the situation of the rape in the most extraordinary way. But my immediate reaction was…I asked, did she know who it was? No. What colour were they? She said it was a black person.
I went up and down areas with a cosh, hoping I’d be approached by somebody – I’m ashamed to say that – and I did it for maybe a week, hoping some [Neeson gestures air quotes with his fingers] ‘black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him.
The Taken actor expressed remorse for his actions. “It took me a week, maybe a week and a half, to go through that. She would say, ‘Where are you going?’ and I would say, ‘I’m just going out for a walk.’ You know? ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘No no, nothing’s wrong.’”
He added: “It’s awful but I did learn a lesson from it, when I eventually thought, ‘What the fuck are you doing,’ you know?”
Neeson's admission left fans reeling.
Independent reporter Jessica Morgan Noah wrote: "I just read the piece. I AM SHOOK, but also not surprised. But to be honest, it just outs him as an incredibly shallow-minded person. I wonder, if his friend had been raped by a white man, he'd have the same attitude towards all white people? Probably not."
@NerdAboutTown I just read the piece. I AM SHOOK, but also not surprised. But to be honest, it just outs him as an… https://t.co/0QM2Bbp6ug— 🇯🇲Jessica Noah Morgan™🇯🇲 מלכּה (@🇯🇲Jessica Noah Morgan™🇯🇲 מלכּה) 1549295956
People are shocked by his admission.
Well, I've seen it all now. Liam Neeson admitted to going around trying to find a black person to kill because some… https://t.co/f0Q8QfmU3J— Elizabeth Pears (@Elizabeth Pears) 1549289213
Words are so powerful. I've never seen a more inappropriate use of the words "Then again..." https://t.co/rYjoRD9lry— Elizabeth Pears (@Elizabeth Pears) 1549290715
Me: Liam Neeson: I was racist for two weeks but I came out stronger x— Bolu Babalola (@Bolu Babalola) 1549293345
This isn't about cancel culture. I'm talking about how the pain, violence and anger of white men is channelled towa… https://t.co/phA18UYDcY— Ash Sarkar (@Ash Sarkar) 1549292953
Some people are torn, arguing that although he acknowledged that his thoughts at the time were "awful", it was still racist.
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 Liam Neeson’s pattern of thoughts as told… https://t.co/nFEGc2cE5i— Wei Ming Kam isn't here right now (@Wei Ming Kam isn't here right now) 1549289677
So I guess Liam Neeson just publicly admitted he’s racist, huh https://t.co/r33F7Bzdzr— 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 (@𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫) 1549291838
Turns out Liam Neeson is a bit of a racist https://t.co/wk17FX9dEN https://t.co/SD15ixnDVa— ᴉƃᴉɹᴉʍW@ 🇰🇪 (@ᴉƃᴉɹᴉʍW@ 🇰🇪) 1549294775
Liam Neeson is today’s example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.— Jemele Hill (@Jemele Hill) 1549298655
Wait so Liam Neeson went lookin for ANY black person to kill because his sister was assaulted by ‘A’ black person?… https://t.co/ucaK60ldCq— Aaron West (@Aaron West) 1549295593
Many fans are disappointed.
Liam Neeson is a performative racist. It’s sad because I was quite fond of him. He found an excuse to channel his r… https://t.co/NGPqK0acKS— Lateef (@Lateef) 1549295370
Liam Neeson? Wow. I always had taken a liking to him, that Key and Peele sketch when they freaked out over him made… https://t.co/sxLEAQT9wC— 🐺Adam Talbain🌙 (@🐺Adam Talbain🌙) 1549297866
The Independent contacted Neeson’s publicist for further comment but he declined.
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