Liam Neeson’s red carpet for ‘Cold Pursuit’ premiere cancelled after revenge comments

Lionsgate has cancelled the red carpet ahead of the New York premiere of Liam Neeson’s new film “Cold Pursuit” on Tuesday night.

The premiere itself will still take place Tuesday, but the cancellation of the red carpet comes in the wake of a shocking interview revealed on Monday in which Neeson said that many years back he prowled the streets with a weapon hoping to come across a “black bastard” and seek revenge for his friend who had been raped. An individual familiar with the matter said that the red carpet wouldn’t be appropriate under the circumstances.

Lionsgate had no comment. Neeson’s reps did not immediately respond for comment.

Neeson appeared on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday to apologize and clarified some of his comments in an interview with Robin Roberts, saying that he’s “not racist.”

“I went out deliberately into black areas in this city looking to be set upon so I could unleash physical violence. And I did it for maybe four or five times until I caught myself on, and it really shocked me, this primal urge I had. It shocked me and it hurt me. I did seek help,” Neeson said. “I’m not racist. This was nearly 40 years ago.”

The actor was asked about the film’s themes of revenge during a junket interview when he revealed that he had a “primal urge” to seek revenge. He attributed his behavior in part to the tumultuous time during his upbringing in Northern Ireland in which Protestants and Catholics were at war.