Liam Neeson

[DeeLicious]

has he killed his own career?

[murraymints]

ditto Calico xx

[andy-hughes]

murraymints - // Andy that's a bit naive....given the current "me too" mentality in his profession it WILL be jumped on even if it was in the past !! //

I am aware of that - I am simply saying that we should not be adding fuel to the flames of a 'non-story' by seeing things based on modern attitudes, that were not present in Mr Neeson's thinking at the time he is recalling.

[spathiphyllum]

"he wasn't targeting the perpetrator but rather the whole racial group of the perpetrator."

He wasn't even targeting rapists, just anyone who resembled the person. Why did he go for skin colour? Why not hair colour or eye colour or build or anything else? Probs cus he's a underlined racist.

[andy-hughes]

Callicogirl - // Yes but andy in the US any form of public racism, even regretted and recanted is the kiss of death in the film industry, and I personally think his whole team must be absolutely mad to have let this happen. //

I do understand that - but I doubt that Mr Neeson's 'people' had any idea he was going to recount this incident, if they had, they would have strongly advised against it.

I think Mr Neeson was caught in a reflective mood, and forgot the golden rule for people in public life - there is a time and a place to tell some stories, this was neither of them.

[murraymints]

agree Andy !

[Calicogirl]

Perhaps andy in which case he only has himself to blame, but he's an old hand at this and usually there is a list of questions and topics to be discussed and a list not to, and quite why he deviated so strongly is anyone's guess. I can't see an excuse or a positive in this at all however they spin it, and I'm actually rather sad about it because I always liked him.

[andy-hughes]

spath - // "he wasn't targeting the perpetrator but rather the whole racial group of the perpetrator."

He wasn't even targeting rapists, just anyone who resembled the person. Why did he go for skin colour? Why not hair colour or eye colour or build or anything else? Probs cus he's a underlined racist. //

I believe you are taking the unformed instinctive and inappropriate reactions of a younger man in a different time, and applying modern attitudes and sensitivities that were simply not present at the time.

Let's not lose sight of the fact that Mr Neeson has advised his shame for thinking the way he did at that time, but remember, it was at that time, and attitudes were very different, and young hot-headed men think differently from mature men who are looking back with an appropriate, and advised, sense of regret and embarrassment.

[ummmm]

He's not American though.

[andy-hughes]

Calicogirl - // Perhaps andy in which case he only has himself to blame, but he's an old hand at this and usually there is a list of questions and topics to be discussed and a list not to, and quite why he deviated so strongly is anyone's guess. I can't see an excuse or a positive in this at all however they spin it, and I'm actually rather sad about it because I always liked him. //

Mr Neeson has advised his regret at his feelings at the time of the incident he recounted, I am sure he will now add his regret to talking about them at an inappropriate time and place.

But people make mistakes - that's why they put rubbers on the end of pencils!

[Calicogirl]

No but the majority of his work is in the states and he he's US based Ummm, so that's where he needs to look for how he's perceived if he wants to go on working on large scale things.

[naomi24]

He'll work.

[chelle7272]

I don;t think it will kill his career. He has said he ashamed of it. My perception is he is well liked and has had the sympathy of the public over the death of his wife and more recently nephew. IF it is handled well he should come through this ok.

[andy-hughes]

chelle7272 - // I don;t think it will kill his career. He has said he ashamed of it. My perception is he is well liked and has had the sympathy of the public over the death of his wife and more recently nephew. IF it is handled well he should come through this ok. //

As I see it, there are two approaches to this 'non-story'.

There are those who will work themselves up into a self-righteous fury about 'racism' and there are those who will see this for what it is, an actor temporarily forgetting that he is being interviewed to publicise his new film, and getting a little over-confessional in the process.

But which ever side you are on, this will be forgotten by Friday - such is the modern media world, there is always another 'heavens-to-betsies' story waiting for its thirty seconds in the voracious consciousness of social media.

[retrocop]

Funny how thoughts change in such a short time in the film industry.
Messrs Winner and Bronson made a box office hit with Death Wish in the 70s. So successful ,in fact, they made Deathwish 2 and 3 in the 80's. The cinema audience then liked to see the bad guys blown away.
Similar scenario and different times. No one mentioned the facts that a vengeful man who's wife was raped and murdered was out to kill the black perpetrators, whoever they might be, in those days.

[Calicogirl]

Yes but he didn't just go and shoot any black man Retro- which part of that are you struggling with?

[Prudie]

I see it that for a short while he said something normal, something people say when they are not being scrutinised by the media or AB for that matter, something someone in our family might have said. Something that spurts out before engaging brain and also something I assume to be brutally honest. I shouldn't think he cares two hoots if it affects his career and I think no less of him for what he said.

[Baldric]

Liam Neeson, . . . . who he?

[chelle7272]

Yes Andy - I was alluding the possibility that the media could stir it into something it shouldn't be

[retrocop]

I am not struggling with anything except I can't recall how he knew and recognised all the gang members when he didn't witness the crime?