Liam Neeson Opens Up About His Controversial Past - Fama

Liam Neeson (Photo: AP)

While promoting his film "Cold Pursuit," Liam Neeson recounted a personal story that helped him relate to its revenge theme. He shared that after learning a man had raped his friend, and that the man was Black, he reacted by patrolling areas with a cosh (a bludgeon), hoping for an altercation. Neeson admitted that he spent about a week hoping some "Black bastard" would come out of a pub and confront him so he could kill him. He expressed shame over these actions.

In an interview on Good Morning America, Neeson revealed that there were nights he deliberately went into Black neighborhoods, hoping for an attack so he could retaliate with violence. He labeled his behavior as terrible but denied being racist, asserting he would have reacted similarly if the perpetrator had been of any other ethnicity. Neeson explained that if his friend had said it was an Irish, a Scot, a Brit, or a Lithuanian, he would have felt the same urge. He was trying to honor his friend in a misguided, medieval way.

Neeson later apologized for his comments, acknowledging he had missed the point. Over the past weeks, he reflected on and spoke to many people who were hurt by his impulsive recounting of a brutal rape of a dear female friend nearly 40 years ago and his unacceptable thoughts and actions in response to that crime. 

The horror of what happened to his friend ignited irrational thoughts that did not represent who he was. In trying to explain those feelings, he missed the point and hurt many people at a time when language is often weaponized, targeting innocent communities in acts of rage.

Neeson failed to understand that it was not just about justifying his anger from years ago; it was about the impact of his words today. He recognized that his comments were hurtful and divisive, even though they did not reflect his true feelings. He was wrong to do what he did and profoundly apologized for his actions and words.