Liam Neeson’s controversial comments about chasing a black rapist in a black neighborhood, to avenge his friend, resulted in the cancellation of the red carpet premiere for his action movie “Cold Pursuit” [THR]
There were also calls for him to be digitally removed from the upcoming “Men In Black” movie.
The comments were made during a press interview with The Independent this past January:
“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… ‘black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could… kill him,” explained the actor.
Neeson later went on, in other interviews, to defend himself by saying “I am not a racist.”
Is his career over? Have the mob won in their fight against Mr. Neeson? It could very well depend on how well his film does at the box-office this weekend. It sure as hell made many realize that he even had a new movie being released this Friday.
Today he’s released a full statement:
“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.”
[Deadline]