Liam Neeson says he's not racist, explains rage after attack
Posted February 05, 2019 6:00 am
NEW YORK (AP) - Liam Neeson says violence breeds violence and bigotry breeds bigotry.
The 66-year-old actor appeared Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America," one day after he told an interviewer that he had violent thoughts about killing a black person after learning nearly 40 years ago that someone close to him had been raped.
Neeson says he had asked about the race of the attacker, along with other descriptive characteristics.
He says he had a "primal urge to lash out" before he was shocked by his reaction and sought help from a priest and friends.
Neeson says he's not a racist.
The actor says we need to talk about these things because bigotry and racism exist.
Neeson was promoting his new thriller, "Cold Pursuit."
FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 file photo, actor Liam Neeson poses for photographers upon his arrival at the premiere of the film 'Hunt For The Wilderpeople' in London. Liam Neeson says he had violent thoughts some time ago about killing a black person after learning that someone close to him had been raped. The Northern Ireland-born actor says that after being told the attacker was black he âwent up and down areas with a" stick or truncheon 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.â (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, file)
The Associated Press
This image released by ABC shows Irish actor Liam Neeson, left, with co-host Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America," Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in New York. The 66-year-old actor appeared on the morning program one day after he told an interviewer that he had violent thoughts about killing a black person after learning nearly 40 years ago that someone close to him had been raped. Neeson says he's not a racist. The actor, who was promoting the revenge film "Cold Pursuit," says we need to talk about these things because bigotry and racism exist. (Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC via AP)
The Associated Press
This image released by ABC shows Irish actor Liam Neeson, left, with co-host Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America," Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in New York. The 66-year-old actor appeared on the morning program one day after he told an interviewer that he had violent thoughts about killing a black person after learning nearly 40 years ago that someone close to him had been raped. Neeson says he's not a racist. The actor, who was promoting the revenge film "Cold Pursuit," says we need to talk about these things because bigotry and racism exist. (Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC via AP)
The Associated Press
This image released by ABC shows Irish actor Liam Neeson on "Good Morning America," Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in New York. The 66-year-old actor appeared on the morning program one day after he told an interviewer that he had violent thoughts about killing a black person after learning nearly 40 years ago that someone close to him had been raped. Neeson says he's not a racist. The actor, who was promoting the revenge film "Cold Pursuit," says we need to talk about these things because bigotry and racism exist. (Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC via AP)
The Associated Press
This image released by ABC shows Irish actor Liam Neeson on "Good Morning America," Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in New York. The 66-year-old actor appeared on the morning program one day after he told an interviewer that he had violent thoughts about killing a black person after learning nearly 40 years ago that someone close to him had been raped. Neeson says he's not a racist. The actor, who was promoting the revenge film "Cold Pursuit," says we need to talk about these things because bigotry and racism exist. (Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC via AP)
The Associated Press
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