Liam Neeson under fire after interview
Disturbing admission involving revenge attack is drawing criticism for racial & violent motives.
- Published by David Knox
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Actor Liam Neeson has come under fire for a disturbing interview during a press junket for his new movie, Cold Pursuit, in which he admitted that he once contemplated carrying out a racist revenge attack on a stranger.
Neeson told reporters that many years ago, he returned home from travelling overseas when he learned a person close to him was raped.
“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 (large stick), 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 b*****’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could … kill him.”
This went on for a week, Neeson admitted.
“It was horrible, horrible, when I think back, that I did that,” he told the reporter. “And I’ve never admitted that, and I’m saying it to a journalist. God forbid… It’s awful. But I did learn a lesson from it, when I eventually thought, ‘What the f*** are you doing,’ you know?”
He added later, “I understand that need for revenge, but it just leads to more revenge, to more killing and more killing.”
Neeson has copped a backlash on social media and in numerous media articles since the interview was published.
Cold Pursuit follows a Citizen of the Year who turns vigilante after his son is murdered in mysterious circumstances.
Source: Esquire
8 Responses
Was his comments about “this desire for violence could happen to anyone, it’s how we acknowledge it and reject it” said in the initial interview or in a follow-up?
With the additional comments, it all makes sense. The sickening desire for revenge and how you react to it.
A powerful insight that could do a lot of people good if they get the complete message.
But he acted upon it for a week, on the streets, so that can’t be overlooked and outweighs as mere desire.
Strangely he has as a movie to sell. Call me a cynic.
It was answered in the context of the plot, which is normal procedure. I’d say it will not help sell tix so I doubt it was pre-planned.
David, it’s the theory of any publicity is good publicity. This story is also being spun as racist, his friend was raped by a black man, he wanted to harm a black man, if it was a white man he would have wanted to harm a white man.
Disagree on a number of points. Recent stories have killed off several careers and projects. He didn’t indicate he wanted to harm another man, but a man of black skin, and the language is quite clear. There’s no quote to support your suggestion sorry.
No need to be sorry David, appreciate the discussion.
I just feel we are so unforgiving from anyone’s past mistakes. Not that i am in any way condoning Liam’s past actions, but he knows now that it was the wrong way to think and by admitting it publicly we can all learn. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes. Every single one of us.