Liam Neeson’s shame after revealing he walked streets looking for a ‘black b******’ to kill when a loved one was raped
LIAM Neeson has revealed his shame after once walking the streets looking for a "black b******" to kill after a loved one was raped.
In an interview published today, the Irish actor, 66, said that after being told the attacker was black, he "went up and down areas with a cosh " hoping a black person "would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him."
Liam, who has come under fire for his comments, said during the interview with the "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.
"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 b******’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him."
A cosh is a heavy stick or bar like a baseball bat that's used as a weapon.
The actor shared the personal story as he promoted his new film Cold Pursuit, which sees his character Nels Coxman go on a journey to kill.
The film follows the snowplough driver seeking revenge against the drug dealers he thinks killed his son.
Neeson said his behaviour was "awful" and it took him more than a week to calm down.
"It was horrible, horrible, when I think back, that I did that," he said. "And I’ve never admitted that, and I’m saying it to a journalist. God forbid."
He added: "It’s awful. But I did learn a lesson from it, when I eventually thought, ‘What the f*** are you doing’, you know?";
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In response to the interview Liam has been branded racist by fans amid a massive backlash online.
"Wow so Liam Neeson is f*****g cancelled. So if the guy was white you'd go stalking the streets to find a random, unrelated white person to kill? Scumbag," one outraged reader tweeted.
Another added: "That Liam Neeson interview is just so saddening (and yes, still racist). It reinforces the idea that people of colour, and especially black men, are collectively responsible for the misdeeds of one. And that when a woman is sexually violated, it's a man who is left truly wounded."
Another reader wrote: "Honestly dunno how I feel about that Liam Neeson article."
Neeson suffered fresh heartache earlier this year when his nephew died five years after suffering serious head injuries in a fall on a night out with pals.
Ronan Sexton, 35, passed away at home surrounded by family in Cushendall, Northern Ireland.
His death came nearly ten years after Hollywood star Liam's wife Natasha Richardson suffered a fatal fall.
The British actress died at the age of 45 from serious head injuries inflicted in a skiing accident in March 2009.
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