Actor Liam Neeson has issued a formal apology weeks after his controversial race comments.
The Irish man, best known for his roles in hit movies such as Taken, Love Actually and Schindler’s List, hit headlines earlier this year when he made comments about wanting to kill a ‘black b****rd’ following the alleged rape of a friend of his over 40 years ago.
“She handled the situation of the rape in the most extraordinary way. But my immediate reaction was I asked, did she know who it was? No. What colour were they? She said it was a black person” Liam said in an interview.
“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 b******d” would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him.
The comments made by the 66-year-old caused major backlash, and he has been silent on the issue ever since. However, he has now issued a statement apologising for any offence he ,may have caused.
“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 Ballymena man said.
“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.”
