Last month the Irish actor, 66, told how he had once gone looking for a ‘black b*****d’ to kill with a heavy stick after a friend was raped

Liam Neeson has issued a formal apology for admitting he wanted to kill an innocent black man.

In a statement, Neeson said sorry for his “unacceptable thoughts and actions” decades ago, adding that while trying to explain his feelings “I missed the point and hurt many people”.

The Irish actor caused an outcry in February while promoting his vigilante justice movie Cold Pursuit when he recalled an incident in which a female friend told him she had been raped by a man who was black.

During an interview, Neeson said he had walked near pubs with a heavy stick at the time “hoping some ‘black b*****d’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could … kill him”.

Neeson then compounded the situation in an appearance on Good Morning America, in which he tried to clarify the comments.

He instead described how he had ‘primal urges’ during that time, some 40 years ago.

During the car crash TV appearance, Neeson insisted: “I’m not a racist.”

Now, after a few weeks of reflection, Neeson has issued a formal apology for his comments.

Cold Pursuit – the film he was intending to promote – ended up opening without a red carpeted premiere.

The Hollywood actor said: “The horror of what happened to my friend ignited irrational thoughts that do not represent the person I am.”

“In trying to explain those feelings today, I missed the point and hurt many people at a time when language is so often weaponised and an entire community of innocent people are targeted in acts of rage.”

Liam Neeson expressed his views on Good Morning America ( 
Image:
ABC)

The statement continues: “Over the last several weeks, I have reflected on and spoken to a variety of people who were hurt by my impulsive recounting of a brutal rape of a dear female friend nearly 40 years ago and my unacceptable thoughts and actions at that time in response to this crime.

“The horror of what happened to my friend ignited irrational thoughts that do not represent the person I am.

“In trying to explain those feelings today, I missed the point and hurt many people at a time when language is so often weaponised and an entire community of innocent people are targeted in acts of rage.

Liam Neeson on Good Morning America

“What I failed to realise is that this is not about justifying my anger all those years ago, it is also about the impact my words have today. I was wrong to do what I did.

“I recognise that, although the comments I made do not reflect, in any way, my true feelings nor me, they were hurtful and divisive. I profoundly apologise. ”