Liam Neeson Says He Went Out Hoping to Kill a ‘Black Bastard’ After Someone Close to Him Was Raped
Says he is now ashamed that he went out with a cosh looking to attack someone after the rape of woman he knew.
Jamie Ross
02.04.19 8:47 AM ET
Liam Neeson has revealed that he considered carrying out a racist murder years ago after someone close to him was allegedly raped by a black man.
The shocking admission comes in what should have been a pretty dull press-junket interview with The Independent to promote the Northern Irish actor’s latest film, Cold Pursuit. Neeson said he’d never admitted his impulse to anyone before, and added that he’s now deeply ashamed of his reaction to the woman’s rape.
“I’ll tell you a story. This is true,†the actor can be heard saying to journalist Clémence Michallon in the taped interview, explaining that the woman—who he didn’t name—told him that she had been raped by a black man while he was overseas.
“She handled the situation of the rape in the most extraordinary way,†he went on. “But my immediate reaction was, I asked, did she know who it was? No. What color were they? She said it was a black person. 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 [making air quotes with his fingers] ‘black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him.â€
The Taken star went on to say that it took him a week or two to get over his impulse. He appeared to realize during the interview how shocking his admission was. He said that it “was horrible, horrible, when I think back, that I did that and I’ve never admitted that, and I’m saying it to a journalist. God forbid.â€
His co-star, Tom Bateman, sitting beside him during the interview, can be heard saying: “Holy shit.â€
more
https://www.thedailybeast.com/liam-neeson-says-he-considered-carrying-out-a-racist-murder-after-someone-close-to-him-was-raped