https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47117177
I like Liam Neeson and wish him well, especially after he was widowed a few years back. I also doubt that he's a true racist. But this was an extremely ill-advised admission. He should have known that this admission would not be well-received, and I fear that it will alienate a lot of cinemagoers, particularly within the black community.
I would kill that black man too if I had a close relative raped. It just so happened the guy was black (no surprise). If he were white or any other, I am sure he'd want to kill them too. Tough neighborhood he grew up in, had to be tough. So easy to put blame when someone opens up about it and even regrets thinking about doing the deed years later. But nope, the black privilege folks rose up and called him racist (when they themselves never experienced it or lived through it). It's racist and should let the black rapist go cause reparations ya'll.
shareI haven't even read up on the response to Neeson's admission yet. I just read a precis of his interview and thought "oh boy. This isn't going to go well."
Of course it stands to reason that you'd want to get revenge on the man who'd done such an abhorrent thing to a close female friend or family member; I think we all would. What is disturbing about Neeson's candid admission is that he was apparently willing to go out and hunt down a black man, any black man, in order to avenge his friend's rape, and unfortunately, I don't think society is sophisticated enough to cope with such revelations, even if they only represent a very brief snapshot of time in the life of the person making them. If Neeson had said "I wanted to find and avenge the man who did this to my friend" I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid. It's the implication that he was willing to hurt any innocent black man in order to take out his, understandable, fury, that will bother a lot of people.
Agreed, if he had simply said he was seeking vengeance on the man that had done it, people would be able to relate to that. Many men would also seek out the perpetrator, but when he says he’d seek out any black man to seek revenge.... a definite lapse in his judgement in sharing this story. Seems very ill-advised and unnecessary.
shareYup. An utterly bizzare thing to admit to in an interview. I wonder if he's starting to lose his marbles...
shareIt's a bold confession but I don't see the point of him sharing it. To be labeled as a racist nowadays is almost on par with being labeled a child molester it seems. I don't think he is a racist. I think he was very angry. He said he would hang around bars hoping a black guy got in his face so he killed him. A lot of times kill can mean rough them up pretty bad. I know I've threatened to kill people before getting into a fight. I've also been itching for someone to pick a fight with me just as an excuse to wreck them, race was irrelevant. I just use to be very angry all the time.
Anyway Neeson never acted on any of his impulses. It doesn't matter though because you can be labeled as a racist for so many things nowadays. His certainly did his career no favors in this case
"I would kill that black man too if I had a close relative raped."
But would you kill any black man you saw walking down the street, giving you attitude? Because he said that's what he intended to do, he didn't know who the real perpetrator was, so he was just walking around looking for someone to pick a fight with, just sort of assuming it might be the right guy.
Men have probably died because of that kind of unfocused hatred, Neeson said he never actually hurt anyone, but I'm sure there are those who'd been stupid or evil enough to just kill the first guy that they thought might possibly be the offender. What an awful world we live in.
most sensible comment ive seen on this issue!
a point most people seem to be missing
Yeah, I see what he meant now. He was in full fury and just knew one indication that it was a black guy, not sure how many blacks were in that particular neighborhood back then. Again, he grew up in some bad neighborhood so I can kinda understand the thought process he went through going back at that time which wouldn't be acceptable today. Probably easier to hunt a few black folks than a whole bunch of whites.
When something traumatic happens like that I guess it depends on the person how far he/she could take it before snapping. Good thing he didn't do so else he'd be in jail instead of an actor.
Update: Actually, when finally hearing the audio, he said he hoped some black bastard would start something with him so he can use that as an excuse to wreck him. He never stated he was just looking for any black person to just start whacking on right away.
https://youtu.be/MGEKXdbfLQo?t=38s
Update: Actually, when finally hearing the audio, he said he hoped some black bastard would start something with him so he cause use that as an excuse to wreck him. He never stated he was just looking for any black person to just start whacking on right away.I'm not sure how important a distinction that is.
Probably not important. He wanted to kill any man of that particular race due to the only description available to him, not just any man. Didn't go through with it, calmed down after awhile, no one got hurt, end of story. Else he'd be in jail to life depending on the severity. Nothing burger imo. The more interesting aspect is, would the public forgive him if he did that but served his time and then became an actor.
https://youtu.be/6kdUSKIS--0?t=21s
He gives more detail or clarity here.
I totally understand what he was saying. But these are definitely thoughts you keep between yourself and your diary.
shareI 100% agree.
The reality is, people do have such disturbing and irrational thoughts, but thankfully they're very very fleeting for most individuals (that's not an admission on my part by the way). Still, this is not something you share in public, especially when it happened years ago and is, hopefully, no longer a reflection on your character.
I'm a very honest person. I'm pretty up front with all my thoughts and feelings and rationale behind them. But if the internet has taught me anything it's to keep that shit to yourself. People don't understand. Nobody cares about your path to self discovery and becoming a better person. They only focus on the negative impetus. And the worst thing you can do is explain yourself. That's just more fuel for their fire. Never been more the case in these volatile times.
shareMore like to yourself, period. Diary would be someone eventually finding out and the whole shit happening like it is now.
shareI get the gist of what he's trying to say in context to the discussion. But holy fuck what does he expect the reaction would be in this climate?
shareIt probably wasn't wise of him to reveal this. Brainless PC heads will start exploding and his career could suffer.
shareHe's old. He probably doesn't care what others will think anymore and he is definitely rich enough to retire.
shareAs a fan of much of Neeson's work I agree that this was an ill advised confession that would have been better kept to himself. Not sure what good he thought would come from publicly admitting something as horrible as once being such a violently anti black racist to the point of indiscriminate, homicidal intent against "some black bastard".
Very questionable at best & needlessly opens door for unhealthy interpretations from WS undesirables as well potentially alienating people who abhor such horryfing degrees of racism, not least of all his black fans.
Sometimes things are definitely better left unsaid
Perhaps he confusingly discussed one of his new scripts by mistake. Sounds like the sort of plot one of his films would have to be honest.
shareLiam Neeson telling that story after recent events ... Jussie Smollet being beaten in a racial attack and Viggo Mortensen tanking his Oscar chances by using the n-word... is just ridiculously dumb.
I don’t think Neeson is a racist. But he’s certainly not very aware of current events or the mood in society.
"the mood of society" or the mood of the lamestream media, the LIEberals who drive it, and the ignorant sheeple who foolishly follow?
That said, I agree that it was an unwise decision for Liam to say what he said the way he said it. Better to just say "I wanted to kill the rapist" without delineating the race of the perpetrator. He shoulda known the media would have a field day with it if he specified it was a black man.