‘I’m not racist’
Actor Neeson clarifies comments
Liam Neeson has denied he is a racist after recent comments he made about an incident from decades ago drew backlash. Studio Lionsgate cancelled the red carpet event ahead of the New York première Tuesday night of Neeson’s new action movie, Cold Pursuit — about a man seeking revenge for the death of his son. The Associated Press was reporting the screening itself would go ahead. Neeson sparked controversy this week when he told U.K. newspaper The Independent he wanted to “unleash physical violence” on a black man more than 40 years ago on learning his close friend had been brutally raped.
The actor went on Good Morning America Tuesday to clarify his remarks, telling host Robin Roberts: “I’m not racist.”
“I never felt this before, which was a primal urge to lash out,” he said. “I asked her, ‘Did you know the person? It was a man? His race?’ She said he was a black man. I thought, ‘OK.’ After that, there were some nights I went out deliberately into black areas in this city, looking to be set upon so that I could unleash physical violence. I did it for maybe four or five times. It really shocked me, this primal urge I had. It shocked me and it hurt me. I did seek help. I went to a priest. I had two very good friends I talked to — and, believe it or not, power walking — to get rid of this.” Roberts said people were upset because Neeson asked about the colour of the attacker’s skin, rather than attributes like height or weight. “I asked all those questions too,” he said. “But I did ask about race.” Neeson said he would have had the same reaction if his friend had said her rapist were a white man. “I know it would have had the same effect,” he said. “I was trying to show honour and stand up for my dear friend in this terrible, medieval fashion. I’m a fairly intelligent guy and that’s why it shocked me when I came down to earth after having these horrible feelings. Luckily, no violence occurred, ever.”
Neeson asked Roberts what she thinks the lesson should be. “The one point I want to make out is that this wasn’t discovered by somebody. You admitted this,” she said. “This isn’t a gotcha — so I will give you credit there. But also having to acknowledge the hurt, even though it happened decades ago, the hurt of an innocent black man, knowing he could’ve been killed for something that he did not do because of the colour of his skin.” Roberts commended Neeson for not shying away from the situation and addressing it head-on. “You have to also understand the pain of a black person hearing what you said,” she said.