Liam Neeson drew international attention with his admission that for a brief time, years ago, he walked the streets looking for an excuse to kill a random black man because of his anger over a friend’s rape. On the latest “Low Key” podcast, we talk about the insidious and deadly lies that fed his mindset, and how we can all learn from his decision to speak out now. You can listen on Apple or right here:
It’s a laugh-to-keep-from-crying conversation that bounces from Neeson to Trayvon Martin to Jussie Smollet to why growing up on an island that’s 96 percent white might make you susceptible to some backward views on race. We also talk about some of the ways the news media coverage of Neeson’s admission could have been better.
Just when we’re about to sign off, we instead go into a deep dive about the long, long history of white people using accusations of aggression by one black man to justify horrific behavior against large numbers of African-Americans. If this subject interests you, we’d recommend reading up on Rosewood, Florida and the Scotsboro case, to start.
We’d also recommend reading the interview in which Neeson first volunteered that after a friend was raped, he pressed her for details about the attacker — specifically his race.
After she told him he was black, Neeson said he walked the streets with a cosh, or stick. The Independent quoted him:
“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,” another pause, “kill him.”
Those remarks drew widespread disgust. But on the podcast we also talk about Neeson’s words from the same interview that drew less attention: “It’s awful. … But I did learn a lesson from it, when I eventually thought, ‘What the f— are you doing,’ you know?”
On every episode of “Low Key,” my co-hosts Keith Dennie and Aaron Lanton and I talk about facets of pop culture stories we think most people have missed. This week, we try to put Neeson’s remarks in historical perspective, and talk about why they recalled a long history of bigotry. And Aaron asks: Where are the calls for Neeson to apologize, like the ones Kevin Hart received after past homophobic tweets?
We also talk about how we should respond to people to confess to past racism — and look for ways we can all learn to handle these situations better. It’s an especially relevant question in a week in which two Virginia politicians confessed to past use of blackface.
If the episode sounds unbearably depressing, well… we were surprised how much we found to laugh about in the middle of a very ugly story.
“I just can’t believe Qui-Gon Jinn would go to the Dark Side like that,” Keith says at the end of the episode.
If you like what you hear, please let us know on Apple, which is the ideal place to leave us feedback. Thanks!
20 of Denzel Washington and Liam Neeson's Biggest Box Office Hits (Photos)
"The Pelican Brief" (1993) - The oldest film on this list, Washington teamed up with a red hot Julia Roberts to bring in $101 million dollars in the U.S. and $195 million worldwide.
"Schindler's List" (1993) - Neeson earned his only Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a businessman during the Holocaust who grows close to his Jewish workers and resolves to save as many as he can. The film resonated with audiences, earning $96 million in the U.S. and $321 million worldwide.
"Crimson Tide" (1995) - Washington starred with Gene Hackman in this nuclear suspense thriller, which pulled in $91 million domestic and $157 worldwide.
"Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace" (1999) - Neeson's role as Qui-Gon Jinn in the continuation of the sci-fi epic soured critics but raked in a whopping $1.027 billion worldwide, $475 million domestic.
"Remember the Titans" (2000) - Washington led an integrated football team to a championship and led the film to $115 million domestic and $137 million worldwide.
"Man on Fire" (2004) - Washington's turn as a vengeful assassin earned $78 million in the U.S. and $130 million worldwide.
"Batman Begins" (2005) - Neeson's portrayal of Henri Ducard/Ra's al Ghul helped define Christopher Nolan's Batman films. His musings of masks, symbols and justice would shape many of the trilogy's themes and helped power the film to $207 million domestic and $374 million worldwide.
"Inside Man" (2006) - Washington reunited with Spike Lee and helped revive the director's career with this smart crime thriller, earning $89 million domestic and $189 worldwide.
"American Gangster" (2007) - Washington's turn as the ruthless, capitalistic drug kingpin Frank Lucas drove audiences to the theaters en masse, earning $130 million in the U.S. and $266 million worldwide.
"Unstoppable" (2009) - This Tony Scott film barreled like an out-of-control train towards $82 million domestic and $168 worldwide.
"Taken" (2009) - The film that launched his action career, Neeson surprised with his ease in playing a badass and audiences turned out in droves, to the tune of $145 million in the U.S. and $227 million worldwide.
"The A-Team" (2010) - This adaptation of the hit 1970s TV show, with Neeson as Col. John "Hannibal" Smith, brought in $77 million in the U.S. and $177 million worldwide.
"The Book of Eli" (2010) - Washington is a post-apocalyptic prophet on a mission in this underrated action film, which drew in audiences to the tune of $95 million and $157 million worldwide.
"Clash of the Titans" (2010) - "Release the Kraken!" This summer blockbuster about the mythical Greek gods, with Neeson as Zeus, earned $163 million domestic and $493 million worldwide.
"Wrath of the Titans" (2012) - Neeson returns as Zeus to help save the ancient world from the Titans in this summer hit, which earned $84 million domestic and $305 million worldwide.
"Taken 2" (2012) - Neeson returns as a man with "a very particular set of skills" who must save himself and his ex-wife from vengeful kidnappers. The sequel pulled in $140 million domestic and $376 million worldwide.
"Safe House" (2012) - Washington plays a fugitive on the run with his CIA handler (Ryan Reynolds) in this spy thriller, which pulled in $126 million in the U.S. and $208 million worldwide.
"Dark Knight Rises" (2012) - The critically acclaimed third film in Christopher Nolan's batman trilogy raked in $1.084 billion worldwide, $448 million domestic. Neeson appeared as Ra's al Guhl in flashbacks.
"Flight" (2013) - Washington played an extremely flawed pilot who must deal with his own failings while being hailed as a hero; the movie earned $94 million in the U.S. and $162 million worldwide.
"Non-Stop" (2014) - Neeson plays an air marshal in this airborne version of "Die Hard," which brought in $92 million in the U.S. and $202 million worldwide.
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Action movies have been big earners for both of the veteran stars
"The Pelican Brief" (1993) - The oldest film on this list, Washington teamed up with a red hot Julia Roberts to bring in $101 million dollars in the U.S. and $195 million worldwide.
