After Controversial Interview, Calls For Liam Neeson To Be Digitally Removed from Men In Black Begin

After Liam Neeson’s controversial interview with British newspaper The Independent and a follow-up with Good Morning America, a number of people began to call for his character to be digitally removed from the upcoming Men in Black: International film.

A number of people took to Twitter to make it clear they want Neeson removed from Men in Black.

Others called for a boycott of the film.

Some made light of the situation altogether.

Some even suggested Sony would hire Christopher Plummer to replace Liam Neeson. Plummer replaced Kevin Spacey in Ridley Scott’s [easyazon_link identifier=”B078JRX77T” locale=”US” tag=”boundingintocomics-20″]All the Money in the World[/easyazon_link]. Spacey has been accused of sexual misconduct.

All of this comes after an interview with The Independent during his press tour for the action-drama Cold Pursuit. During the interview, the British actor recounted a time in his youth where a close friend confided in him that she had been brutally raped by a black man. Neeson recalled his “primal” reaction to hearing this story.

“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… kill him.”

Neeson described his actions as horrible and that he did a learn a lesson from it.

“It was horrible, horrible, when I think back, that I did that. And I’ve never admitted that, and I’m saying it to a journalist. God forbid,” Neeson said. “It’s awful. But I did learn a lesson from it, when I eventually thought, ‘What the f*** are you doing,’ you know?”

As the firestorm grew, Liam Neeson clarified his statements in an appearance on Good Morning America. Neeson echoed that he wasn’t proud of his emotional reaction and the thoughts he had some 40 years ago. But he was candid in admitting that the race of the man who raped his friend wouldn’t have mattered.

“Oh definitely, if she had said an Irish, or a Scot, or a Brit, or a Lithuanian, I know I would have had the same effect. I was trying to show honor, to stand up for my dear friend in this terrible Medieval fashion. I’m a fairly intelligent guy and that’s why it kind of shocked me when it came down to Earth after having these horrible feelings. Luckily, no violence occurred ever. Thanks be to God.”

He did admit that he would have committed violence if he was set upon.

“Yes. Yes. That was my feeling that I did want to lash out. Yes. Because my friend was brutally raped and I thought I was defending her honor, and I admit that., and it’s a learning curve.”

Following Neeson’s appearance on Good Morning America, Lionsgate canceled the New York premiere of Cold Pursuit.

But with everything social media, the “outrage” might be more amplified online than in the average living room. Sexual assault is a terrible crime one that tends to bring outrage from those who felt helpless and unable to protect their loved ones. What do you think of Neeson’s comments? And should he even apologize for opening up about a dark period in his psyche?

Let me know your thoughts below!