Liam Neeson has denied being a racist in a US television interview, following outrage over his admission that he once sought to kill a black person after a friend was raped. The actor appeared on Good Morning America to clarify remarks made in a newspaper interview, where he described a 'primal urge to lash out' nearly 40 years ago.
Neeson explained that he had grown up surrounded by bigotry during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, but insisted he was never part of it. He said his reaction would have been the same regardless of the attacker's race, stating: 'If she had said an Irish, Scot, or a Brit, or a Lithuanian – I know I would have felt the same way.'
The actor described his behaviour as lasting about a week, during which he carried a cosh and hoped to be approached by a 'black bastard' so he could kill him. He called his actions 'horrible' and said he later spoke to a priest and took up power walking to cope with his feelings.
Neeson's original comments drew criticism from the NAACP, whose director of communications Malik Russell called them 'unfortunate and sick'. Guardian columnist Gary Younge wrote that Neeson's actions showed black people are 'still fair game'. However, former footballer John Barnes defended Neeson, saying 'we are all unconscious racists' and that Neeson's admission of wrongdoing was commendable.
