Many social media users on Twitter expressed shock at his admission, accusing Neeson of racism.
“This is pretty horrendous. If a white person commits a crime against another race of people, god forbid. Should these people blame all white people? No. Anyone who has thoughts like that is clearly a racist. It’s appalling to read stuff like this.”
“Who the FUCK asks a woman who has been raped the race of their rapist? A racist. That’s who. Oh also a sexist, nasty fuck who doesn’t care about the raped friend.”
The Northern Ireland-born actor recounted the story in an interview with The Independent while promoting his new thriller “Cold Pursuit,” about a father who seeks violent revenge for his son’s death.
He said the incident happened some time ago when he returned from an overseas trip to learn a close friend had been raped.
Neeson, 66, called his reaction “horrible,” saying it taught him a lesson about the “primal need” for revenge.
Neeson, who grew up in Northern Ireland during the decades of violence known as the Troubles, said: “I understand that need for revenge, but it just leads to more revenge, to more killing and more killing, and Northern Ireland’s proof of that.”
Neeson’s publicist didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.