What did Liam Neeson actually say to get himself in trouble?

https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/05/liam-neeson-say-interview-led-racism-row-8443224/


Liam Neeson has found himself at the centre of a race row following his controversial interview (Picture: WireImage)

Liam Neeson is at the centre of a race row following comments he made in an interview about wanting to hunt down a friend’s rapist.

The remarks came in an interview the Taken actor gave to the Independent, in which he explained his reaction to the news.

But what did he say that caused the outrage?

In the interview, the 66-year-old recalls the traumatic ordeal of learning the unnamed friend had been raped, saying they handled the ordeal ‘in the most extraordinary way’.

However he continued by explaining that he had taken to the streets with a cosh, wanting to avenge the assault.

‘My immediate reaction was… I asked, did she know who it was?’ he said. ‘No. What colour were they? She said it was a black person.
Actor Liam Neeson who has caused a race row following a controversial interview in The Independent
The actor has caused outrage both in the media and on social media (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I went up and down areas with a cosh, hoping I’d be approached by somebody – I’m ashamed to say that – and I did it for maybe a week, hoping some [Neeson gestures air quotes with his fingers] “black bastard” would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could… kill him.’

The actor went on to admit he had never told the story publicly before.

The remarks have resulted in a storm both on social media and beyond.