Liam Neeson issues apology for past racist remarks: 'Missed the point and hurt many people'

Liam Neeson is again apologizing for revealing that he wanted to kill a random black person nearly 40 years ago after a close friend had been raped by a black man. Neeson issued a statement on 29 March and apologized for “hurtful and divisive” comments that “do not reflect, in any way, my true feelings nor me.” [caption id=“attachment_5472571” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Liam Neeson. Image from Twitter @musicbuzznewz[/caption] The actor caused a firestorm in early February when he told The Independent that after learning his friend’s attacker was black, he hoped 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.” He later told Good Morning America that he is not a racist and moved past his desire for violence after seeking help from a priest and from friends. But the controversy overshadowed his new film, Cold Pursuit. His red carpet appearance at the film’s premiere in New York was cancelled. In his latest statement, Neeson said he has had time to reflect on “my unacceptable thoughts and actions at that time.” He said that in trying to explain his feelings, he “missed the point and hurt many people.” He ended the 155-word statement to Variety. “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,” he said in a statement. “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.” (With inputs from The Associated Press)