LOS ANGELES:

Lionsgate has scrubbed Tuesday night’s red carpet for the New York City premiere of Liam Neeson’s “Cold Pursuit” in the wake of the actor’s racially charged comments.

The studio had no comment but sources said that Lionsgate decided to pull the plug on the carpet due to his revelation in an interview earlier this week with the Independent that was hoping to kill some “black ...” upon learning his close friend was brutally raped over 40 years ago. Reps for Neeson were not immediately available to comment.

The actor apologized on Tuesday morning