Liam Neeson apologizes for 'hurtful and divisive' racial comments: 'I was wrong to do what I did'
Liam Neeson called the gender wage gap "f---ing disgraceful" in an interview, but when asked if he would take a pay cut, the actor said "no." (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
(FOX NEWS) - A month after Liam Neeson gave an interview, in which he recalled decades-old thoughts of wanting to kill some “black bastard” when a close friend told him she was raped, the "Taken" star is apologizing over his comments.
In a statement obtained by Fox News, the 66-year-old actor said that the remarks he made "do not reflect, in any way," his "true feelings" nor him. He acknowledged, in no uncertain terms, that his words "were hurtful and divisive."
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"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," the statement read. "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."