The 'Cold Pursuit' actor has been met with backlash after he opened up in an interview about his 'awful' reaction to a female friend's confession that she had been raped.
- February 5, 2019
AceShowbiz - Liam Neeson has angered fans with a story about how he roamed the streets looking for a black person to attack in reaction to the alleged rape of a friend.
The Northern Irish actor is currently promoting his latest revenge thriller "Cold Pursuit", and spoke to Britain's Independent newspaper about how he identifies with his character, a snow plow driver turned vigilante out to avenge the death of his son.
During the chat, Liam revealed that a female pal told him she had been raped after he returned from an overseas trip - and that he went looking to kill a "black b**tard" because of his friend's description of the alleged perpetrator.
"She handled the situation of the rape in the most extraordinary way," he confessed. "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 'black b**tard' would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him."
The star admitted his actions were "horrible" and "awful" and said he had "learned a lesson" from the bleak period following the rape.
His racist language and horrifying past actions sparked fury from disappointed fans - some of whom threatened to boycott his films.
Musician and actress Lisa Moorish wrote on Twitter: "Well that's my love affair with Liam Neeson over with. Racist t**t."
Well that’s my love affair with Liam Neeson over with. Racist twat. https://t.co/eNXxezq4Im
— Lisa Moorish 🤓 (@LisaMoorish) 4 February 2019
Others called him "cancelled" and expressed concern about his racially motivated response.
In the interview the 66-year-old actor blamed his reaction on his tough upbringing in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Some fans praised the star, however, for owning up to his shocking past and expressing his shame at his actions.
YouTuber Joe Julians wrote: "So, Liam Neeson freely reveals some horrible things he did in the past and most importantly states how much he regrets it, but we're all going to condemn him anyway? Way to go Twitter."
So, Liam Neeson freely reveals some horrible things he did in the past and most importantly states how much he regrets it, but we're all going to condemn him anyway? Way to go Twitter.
— Joe Julians (@JoeJulians) 4 February 2019
Liam's representatives did not respond to a request for comment.
