Everyone who worked on Liam Neeson’s latest thriller, Cold Pursuit, weren’t the only people horrified by the actor’s admission while promoting the film that he had walked the streets at night following a friend’s rape, looking for a black man to assault in a misguided attempt at vengeance. “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 [Neeson gestures air quotes with his fingers] ‘black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know?,” the actor told the Independent. “So that I could kill him.” On Friday, Neeson issued a lengthy apology for the comment.
“The horror of what happened to my friend ignited irrational thoughts that do not represent the person I am,” the actor says in part in a new statement. “In trying to explain those feelings today, I missed the point and hurt many people at a time when language is so often weaponized and an entire community of innocent people are targeted in acts of rage.”
Following the February interview, which left fans understandably appalled, the actor visited Good Morning America in an attempt to further explain himself. “It really shocked me, this primal urge I had,” the actor said of his violent impulse. “It shocked me and it hurt me. I did seek help. I went to a priest, I bared my confession.”
While Neeson might have realized how jarring the story might sound, he clearly didn’t take into consideration how horrible it would be to hear a beloved actor discuss a racist murder reverie while promoting a new film. “I recognize that, although the comments I made do not reflect, in any way, my true feelings nor me, they were hurtful and divisive,” Neeson says now. “I profoundly apologize.” You can read his full apology below.
Over the last several weeks, I have reflected on and spoken to a variety of people who were hurt by my impulsive recounting of a brutal rape of a dear female friend nearly 40 years ago and my unacceptable thoughts and actions at that time in response to this crime. The horror of what happened to my friend ignited irrational thoughts that do not represent the person I am. In trying to explain those feelings today, I missed the point and hurt many people at a time when language is so often weaponized and an entire community of innocent people are targeted in acts of rage. What I failed to realize is that this is not about justifying my anger all those years ago, it is also about the impact my words have today. I was wrong to do what I did. I recognize that, although the comments I made do not reflect, in any way, my true feelings nor me, they were hurtful and divisive. I profoundly apologize.
