Liam Neeson made an appearance on "Good Morning America" on Tuesday to explain his comments about wanting to carry out revenge after a friend was attacked.
» RELATED: Liam Neeson admits he wanted to kill after friend was raped
During an interview with the Independent for his upcoming film “Cold Pursuit,” which he said is a dark comedy about revenge, he recounted a personal story about contemplating vengeance following a friend’s rape.
“She handled the situation of the rape in the most extraordinary way,” Neeson told the paper earlier this week. “But my immediate reaction was ... did she know who it was? No. What color were they? She said it was a black person.”
When he learned the rapist’s race, he said, “I went up and down areas with a cosh (crowbar), hoping I'd be approached by somebody ... hoping some ‘black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him.”
He received much backlash online after his statement.
During his appearance on “Good Morning America,” he reiterated that the incident occurred more than 40 years ago.
“I'm not racist,” he said. “This was nearly 40 years ago.”
He also said his behavior shocked him, and he revealed he sought help from a priest who heard his confession.
When Neeson explained he grew up surrounded by violence in Northern Ireland, “Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts asked, “Would you have had the same reaction if your friend said it was a white man?”
“If she had said an Irish, or a Scot, or a Brit or a Lithuanian, I know I would have felt the same effect,” said Neeson, who also explained he asked about the alleged offender’s height, weight and other characteristics as well. “I was trying to show honor, stand up for my dear friend in this terrible, medieval fashion.”
He said he hopes his comments will encourage others to talk openly about racism and bigotry.
» RELATED: Celebrities tweet support to 'Empire' star Jussie Smollett after brutal attack
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