MovieChat Forums > Liam Neeson Discussion > Will His Career Recover?

Will His Career Recover?

posted 5 years ago by [deleted]
79 replies | jump to latest

Everyone I've heard, read and spoken to agrees that what Neeson confessed to a journalist regarding his desire to take revenge against random black men for a relative's rape, was extremely ill-advised. However, it presumably took place many years, even decades ago, and Neeson is a man who has experienced his own share of tragedies in life. Moreover, I hope and doubt this mindset does not represent the man that Neeson is today (even if he should have been way more thoughtful and cultural-politically conscious before making such a disturbing admission).

My fear however is that we are currently living in a very unforgiving, puritanical, ultra-PC era in which the slightest transgression will be punished, particularly by those groups in society that have historically been oppressed and marginalised, and, quite understandably, want to now assert some of that growing cultural power.

This is not a defence for Neeson's mindset, far less his foolish admission (surely there were better ways he could have expressed his experience of vengeful/violent thoughts), but it is an acknowledgment that people are imperfect, including movie stars, and, one suspects, those imperfections are, sadly, more prevalent in society than not.

[–] TheArgentinian (6449) 5 years ago

In Hollywood, money talks. If the movie he's promoting bombs, there'll be some producers reconsidering casting him

[–] Wuchak (8122) 5 years ago

we are currently living in a very unforgiving, puritanical, ultra-PC era in which the slightest transgression will be punished, particularly by those groups in society that have historically been oppressed and marginalised, and, quite understandably, want to now assert some of that growing cultural power.

Yes, it's a good example of liberal fascism or -- better put -- LIEberal fascism.

[–] AP (5258) 5 years ago

From what I read, he admitted to some very dark and hateful thoughts he had 40 years ago, stopped himself before anyone got hurt, and sought help. Seems like a cautionary tale about bigotry, revenge, and violence. If he celebrated these thoughts or if his actions occurred last week, it would be a different matter but as it is, I see no reason to vilify him.

Do we no longer believe people can change? Do we no longer forgive? Also, how is Mark Wahlberg still working when he actually went through with his hate crime?

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

Do you know what the context was in which he brought up this idiotic confession? I'd bet it is to plug some upcoming movie.

It doesn't matter if someone can change or not. If they do, that's great, and it is their business, but in the case of someone running to represent the public, I don't think assuming someone has changed is a good idea. One has to be very strict in that case.

[–] AP (5258) 5 years ago

There's not much assumption going on. Neeson was talking about something that happened 40 years ago. If he was sincerely violent and racist, he would have gone through with his actions at some point. Instead, he comes forward as a much older and wiser man, decades later to admit guilt to having a moment of weakness as a cautionary tale. Certainly, the younger Neeson didn't seem to be the violent sort before this and considering he only went looking for trouble for a few days before he calmed down shows that he was consumed with rage and did not know how to channel that emotion into something more positive.

I don't know how old you are, but are you telling me that when you were younger, you didn't make any mistakes and you have not changed in some way? I'm sure you didn't go so far as to walk the streets in hopes of getting into a fight with a person of a particular race but I'm sure if you think back, you'll remember moments in which anger got the better of you or you held some opinion that you later knew was wrong. I know I made mistakes when I was younger. It's part of maturing as a human being.

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

Well, one would hope Neeson does not feel that way now. What was the point of mentioning it at all?

Just for comparison, though I may have made mistakes as a kid, decades ago, I feel like I am pretty close to the same person I was back then, but having learned a lot more and gained more experience. I would never have considered or condoned this kind of thoughts or behavior, let alone actually taken action on it. I was probably not strong enough to stand up to overt racists I might encounter ... but I did pretty well. I am long time resident of California, and I took a contract job in the deep South for a year in the early 90's. That place disgusted me with its institutional racism. In fact as I get older and see more of what is going on I have only gotten stronger in my opposition to racism. That is not to say I feel warm and cozy with all minorities, but I feel there is a reason they are perceived negatively, and most of it is unfair - but that unfairness throughout life can drive negative behavior. The goal should be to eliminate it.

However, I do know people from various times in my life that were hateful towards certain groups and probably would have engaged in violence. I got them out of my life ASAP. That is not so easy for everyone though.

I think what you say is what Neeson is TYING to do, that is coming across as a wiser more mature man, but why? Seems to me that only reason for a celebrity to do that is because he or she thinks it will gain more audience. Being edgy seems to be the thing these days. Maybe I am too cynical, or maybe Neeson is, but I don't like it.

I feel that people who are put in positions of influencing the public or even making a lot of money need to be good people. I am critical of raw capitalism for the reason that there is no channel to allow people to be put first, before money. We need to put people first, and shun people who do not.

[–] AP (5258) 5 years ago

Well, one would hope Neeson does not feel that way now. What was the point of mentioning it at all?

He mentioned it for the sole purpose of showing he does not feel that way anymore. That was the entire message of his statement that some people don't get for whatever reason. He was showing that people can overcome hatred and bigotry. I admire that he was self-aware enough to move away from that and people like Liam Neeson need to be applauded.

And how is this "edgy"? To begin with, I don't think a man in his late 60's who has had a decent career since 1981 needs to be edgy or "gain an audience". He has an audience and a middle aged man does not need to be edgy. Second, revealing flaws is not an edgy thing to do. It's a brave and noble thing to do, no different than when actors have admitted to drug addiction or infidelity. I do not trust anyone who claims they are perfect. I do not trust anyone who refuses to admit to guilt or shame. People who constantly walk around with a facade of moral superiority tend to be hiding some nasty secrets they have not atoned for.

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

> He mentioned it for the sole purpose of showing he does not feel that way anymore.

How do you know? Actors basically lie and pretend to be someone else for their very living. You could be right or you could be wrong, but you are just projecting, being manipulated. That's what actors do.

And the "moral superiority" you mention could be what he is acting at now. How would you know?

[–] AP (5258) 5 years ago

If he revealed a secret he didn't need to reveal and did so to apparently pretend to be vulnerable and teach a valuable lesson about racism, what would his goal? What could he possibly gain from that? It makes no logical sense.

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

Attention ... they know that any attention is good attention, it makes one relevant. I think no one cares about Neeson any more, kind of like happens with all those actors who take every movie they can and get over-exposed until people are sick of them.

[–] AP (5258) 5 years ago

Why would Neeson need attention if he is already a big name, award winning movie star? Especially when it comes to potential negative attention. Especially one who has never engaged in attention seeking behavior in his entire 30 year career.

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

I certainly hope not. I am so sick and tired of seeing him and his formulaic monotonous movies anyway.

On the other hand I do sort of agree with you about the climate being unforgiving. I am more forgiving in a case where someone does not deliberately or stupidly bring it on themselves.

For instance the thing that just came about about Elizabeth Warren putting her race as Native American on her bar certificate. I could care less. She obviously had a kind of delusion about Native American heritage. I'm told I have it as well from the 1700's on the East coast, and I appreciate it, but I would never think to put that down since I cannot exactly prove it. But so what.

Lies and goofs are used to pile on and slam someone one group doesn't like. When I see that happening I always go the other way. In the Neesom's case ... he just sounds like he is stupid, cluelss and a real jerk in real life. What is that supposed to do for the other person? It was an excuse for him to be a violent jerk ... and what is the real story?

One wonders if maybe he brought it up subconsciously because he felt guilty because maybe he really did it? Who knows. He is my actor's shit list now of people I will not pay to see in something.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Have you ever seen Schindler's List, or Silence, or Widows?

If you think that Neeson only makes formulaic monotonous movies, you don't know your ass from your elbow.

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

I did not say "only" so maybe your reading comprehension doesn't know it's ass from its elbow. Are you Liam Neeson? If not why do you care so much as to insult someone you know nothing about. You seem mentally unstable to me.

Most of his movies are formulaic, and the rest of them are just parts he is playing. He didn't write them or make them up. Get a grip.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I didn't strictly insult you. My statement was conditional. I said "if you think that Neeson only makes formulaic monotonous movies, you don't know your ass from your elbow." If you don't think that he does, great. There's no reason to take any offence.

Still, by saying "I certainly hope [his career doesn't recover]", you're basically saying you hope Neeson doesn't get more opportunities to make the more intelligent and complex films I listed. In fact, it's more likely he'll end up stuck in b-movie hell making the type of formulaic pap you've understandably derided (since the types of people who watch those films are the least likely to care whether or not Neeson tried to beat up a black man forty years ago).

As for Elizabeth Warren, I've got to disagree with you. I think her recent behaviour is more damaging than Neeson's confession.

Neeson is a white man who admitted his guilt and culpability in systemic racism. Warren is a white woman who is seeking to exonerate herself entirely of guilt and culpability by clinging onto very distant Native American blood. It's a typical game rich white liberals play in order to absolve themselves of white privilege. If you can claim to belong to a non-white racial group (no matter how tiny a percentage, or how disputable, that non-white blood my be), you no longer have to take personal responsibility for white privilege, or so the reasoning goes.

If all white people were as honest as Neeson, and were less self-deluded than Warren, white people might take the first steps to actually challenging systemic racism. But in order to do so, white people need to acknowledge their own privileges and failings.

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

Your comments are not worth reading.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

That is very disrespectful.

Why did you bother replying to me if you didn't expect a response?

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

He should have kept it a secret between himself and maybe his therapist.

[–] McQualude (4231) 5 years ago

Dude is 66 years old and had a very successful career. Hollywood hates old white guys and his career is mostly behind him. It can't really hurt him.

[–] Moonglum9 (10713) 5 years ago

who when they were not raging drunk didn't in a fight or argument pick the nastiest thing to respond with?

Not I. Even at my angriest or most drunken I will say something like: Even though you may be of a different race, faith, gender, or sexual orientation than I, I respect you and consider you an equal. But I wrinkle up my forehead and nose and scowl so that they know that I'm angry.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

He'll be fine, It'll all blow over in a couple of days.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Some former fans will hold it against him for life.

Not me. I say, what is in the past, is in the past. As long as he is not a racist now and his actions didn't lead to anyone being hurt (they didn't) he should be forgiven. It's not like he actually blinded someone, like Mark Wahlberg did.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (16190) 5 years ago

Hell, Bueller killed two people while driving but no one cares about that anymore.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

True, but that was years before the internet, and decades before the explosion of the social media.

Plus, the argument in Broderick's case is that it was an accident, and the sad truth is, manslaughter is probably seen as less of an issue for the self-appointed keyboard judges on social media than an admission that one had a racist, sexist or homophobic thought forty years ago. Kill a couple of white people, and you're fine; use the 'n' word, and your career is over.*

*And no, I'm not defending the 'n' word or anyone who uses it. It's disgusting. I'm just making an observation.

[–] NorrinRad (5025) 5 years ago

True, but that was years before the internet, and decades before the explosion of the social media.

Do you honestly think that social media, the internet and self-appointed keyboard warriors are the problem?

There were three victims in Liam's vigilante revenge fantasy:

1.) The lady that was raped. How was she avenged? Who was Liam seeking revenge for? it appears to have been for himself. He self-appointed himself as the instrument for revenge when the lady never said she wanted an "eye for an eye" and I will be avenged. Did he seek to go rape the Black Bastard's wife or girlfriend? Did he ever say that the woman did not suffer anxiety or PTSD or was ever made whole after her traumatic ordeal? Did he ever really care about her?

If a 6ft 4 in black man carrying a crowbar was walking up and down a white community for almost two weeks actively looking to "Start" something against any "White" Bastard actually happened you don't think that white community would be, I don't know, terrorized?

2. The Black community was definitely terrorized by this sulking, seething presence of a White man trawling their neighborhoods actively Looking to start something so that he could finish it.

3. Society in general was victimized by Liam's actions for those 7-10 days when he exacerbated the tensions between races in his revenge fantasy.

And people on the internet continue to say, oh he didn't do anything wrong, nothing really happened and it's social media that's making a big deal about this.

Fear and ignorance. Social media is exposing the walls of ignorance and fear that existed 40 years ago and are hopefully starting to crumble in the light of more voices who speak out through social media.

Keep typing you self-appointed keyboard warriors!

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

There were three victims in Liam's vigilante revenge fantasy:

1.) The lady that was raped. How was she avenged? Who was Liam seeking revenge for? it appears to have been for himself. He self-appointed himself as the instrument for revenge when the lady never said she wanted an "eye for an eye" and I will be avenged. Did he seek to go rape the Black Bastard's wife or girlfriend? Did he ever say that the woman did not suffer anxiety or PTSD or was ever made whole after her traumatic ordeal? Did he ever really care about her?

FFS! You make it sound like Neeson was responsible for the rape too.

I'm sure people like you will find a way to spin it so Neeson, a white man, is held personally responsible for his relative's rape by a black man, irrespective of his response. Maybe it was systemic racism that caused the rape, right?

And how do you know that Neeson didn't care about his relative? I've seen people argue that his interview was misguided and self-absorbed in only focusing on his response to his relative's rape, but how much more offensive would it have been if Neeson, a man, had spoken on behalf of the relative who had been assaulted.

Of course it should be her story, not his, but Neeson is not in a position to speak for her; he can only speak for himself, and as wrong-headed and foolish as his notions of revenge were, and as particularly repugnant as his thoughts of going after any 'black bastard' were, as a young hot-headed man he no doubt felt distraught and helpless at his relative's ordeal. Of course his response was the wrong one (although probably not an entirely uncommon one for a twentysomething man, especially one who had grown up in Troubles era Northern Ireland), but it was borne of a desperate need to do something, and somehow, in his mind, 'undo' the pain that had been inflicted on his relative (which is in no way a defence of such 'logic').

And although it is Neeson's relative's story, maybe she wishes to be anonymous.

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 5 years ago

Thank you!

I find it really funny how these morons who shit on Neeson don't seem to hold any grudge against the rapist in the story. All I see is insults toward Neeson, like if what he did was so much worse than what the black rapist did that it overshadow the act of rape. It's fucking ridiculous.

This... and the fact that this happened FOUR DEACADES ago. It's over, it's in the past. And would he have not mention it recently, no one would even know about this.

[–] NorrinRad (5025) 5 years ago

FFS! You make it sound like Neeson was responsible for the rape too.

I'm sure people like you will find a way to spin it so Neeson, a white man, is held personally responsible for his relative's rape by a black man, irrespective of his response. Maybe it was systemic racism that caused the rape, right?

Stop projecting. I don't take personal offense at you for saying the following:

****
I'm sure people like you will find a way to spin it so Neeson, a white man, is held personally responsible for his relative's rape by a black man, irrespective of his response. Maybe it was systemic racism that caused the rape, right?
****
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Small minded, attack the messenger, short-sighted and ill-advised. Stay on point.

I said there were three victims. I never implied/stated/inferred that Liam is responsible for her brutalization. What he did do was decide to exact revenge rather than help her. Again, revenge was about him, it was all about him. It had nothing to do with her.

I am only going on Liam's statements and what he focused on to tell HIS story about how he channels that story to help him in his acting.

I'm not buying into (and neither should anyone else) this normalization of mob, gang, war mentality (The Troubles) and everyone becoming a product of their environments without a choice. It doesn't absolve anyone of personal responsibility. It is not an excuse for one's actions, thoughts or behaviors.

I am in no way asking that his relative come forward either. She doesn't need to relive that moment which is again why I stated that there were three victims. Victim #3, society at large, is now responding and some are appalled and some are scratching their heads trying to figure out, What's the Big Deal"?

Liam's career will be just fine. His explanation and message will improve along with his clarity as he hears from all of these different voices, some of support some of protest.

Let me calibrate my view of all this. The 4th Victim in Liam's story is Liam but he did this to himself. So far he's not trying to play the victim but too many of his supporters are looking at him as if he is a victim just for speaking out.

Liam decided to play Judge, Jury and Executioner as if he was Judge Dredd. Liam ignored all norms of the society, even the strife torn society that birthed him and visited his morals outside of Ireland. The only part of this racial discussion that some of his supporters continue to deflect is the POV of the community he attached himself too to exert his revenge upon.

Also you wrongly assume that he is a Black Racist. If the person was Asian and he went after that "Asian" Bastard he would be an Asian Racist. Which is what I originally labeled him as, a Psychopath. I admit that is extreme also.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Exactly, He was a different person back then. We all were. He shouldn't have said anything though in this climate.