Liam Neeson controversy: Piers Morgan SLAMS John Barnes' 'truly shocking' defence of Hollywood star

Barnes said Neeson deserved a medal for being "honest"
Emma Powell6 February 2019
The Weekender

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Piers Morgan said he was left “staggered” by John Barnes’ defence of Liam Neeson, after the ex-footballer said the Taken star deserves a medal for his “courage”.

Barnes defended Neeson after he admitted his shame at walking the streets with a “cosh” to kill a “black b******” after his friend was raped by a black man 40 years ago.

“I was staggered by John Barnes,” Morgan said on Good Morning Britain. “I’ve got a lot of admiration for him and he’s been a great campaigner for racism, however he gave endless defences of Liam Neeson and said he deserves a medal because he prowled the streets for a week looking for a black person to kill. He said he deserved a medal for his honesty.”

Morgan continued to compare Neeson’s actions to the Ku Klux Klan as he slammed any suggestion his admission and honesty about his actions is “courageous”.

Revenge: Liam Neeson's character seeks revenge in Cold Pursuit
Doane Gregory/LILO/SIPA/Rex/Shutterstock

“If Liam Neeson had a moment of madness that might have been alright but he spent a week armed with a cosh, in his own words ‘looking for a black b****** to kill’ – to murder,” he said. “That is the stuff that the Ku Klux Klan used to do. So he should be damn well ashamed.

“We shouldn’t salute his courage and honesty. No, you did this to flog your movie. I think it is completely shameful that he’s done it in the way he’s done it. I don’t think he’s being courageous. He’s revealing a truly shocking story about himself that has changed my view.”

Morgan said it is “truly shocking” that high profile figures such as Barnes have given Neeson “a remarkable pass” and claimed had President Donald Trump made a similar confession he would have been “absolutely torn to pieces”.

Barnes, who suffered racist abuse both on and off the pitch during his football career, defended Neeson on Sky News, claiming the story has been “spun” and that the “witch hunt” will stop people from being able to hold their “hands up and say ‘I am unconsciously racist.’”

Backlash: Liam Neeson said he was 'not racist' 
Ouzounova / SplashNews.com

Barnes said: “What he said was, for a week, because of the stress he was under when his friend was raped by a black person, and because of the narrative around black people, and this is many years ago, surrounding the perception we have of them, I then wanted to kill every black person.

“He said he was horrified and ashamed for thinking that, but that is not the story we are telling.

“He's not ashamed and horrified at wanting to commit the act of revenge, he's ashamed and horrified because that is what he thought about all black people.”

Neeson made the shock admission during an interview with the Independent to promote his latest film Cold Pursuit in which he plays a father who seeks revenge after the death of his son.

Neeson addressed the backlash on Good Morning America, insisting he is “not racist” and that he “sought help” after his “primal urge to lash out”.

Good Morning Britain is on ITV, weekdays at 6am

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