Actor Liam Neeson insists he is not racist, as he faces a barrage of criticism over an interview in which he admitted he once fantasised about killing a black person after a close friend was raped.

Key points: The red carpet event for Liam Neeson's new film has been cancelled

The red carpet event for Liam Neeson's new film has been cancelled The actor had admitted to a violent revenge fantasy in which he wanted to kill a random black peron

The actor had admitted to a violent revenge fantasy in which he wanted to kill a random black peron He appeared on US TV to call for a wider debate, saying "we all pretend we're all politically correct"

Neeson's original admission, in an interview to promote his new revenge thriller Cold Pursuit, prompted an angry backlash from many social media users.

The day after the original interview was published, the 66-year-old went on Good Morning America to insist: "I'm not racist."

"This was nearly 40 years ago," he said.

The Northern Irishman told the US breakfast show he simply felt a "primal urge to lash out" at the time after his friend told him the man who raped her was black.

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He said he subsequently sought counselling after being "shocked and hurt" by his own feelings.

"I did seek help, I went to a priest," he said.

Neeson, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Schindler's List, said he would have been looking for a white man if his friend had identified her attacker as white.

"It was horrible, horrible when I think back, that I did that," he said.

"It's awful, but I did learn a lesson from it."

And he said he thought society needed to have a larger discussion to end racism and bigotry.

"We all pretend we're all politically correct in this country … in mine, too," he said

"You sometimes just scratch the surface and you discover this racism and bigotry — and it's there."

A 'stupid thing to do'

Former footballer and anti-racism campaigner John Barnes is among those who have come to Neeson's defence, praising the actor for his honesty and saying he has been wrongly criticised for his comments.

"He said he was horrified and ashamed for thinking that, but that is not the story we are telling. We now want him to be pilloried, we never want to let him work again," Mr Barnes said.

"People are now going to be afraid to tell the truth on how they feel. And I always say we are all unconscious racists.

"And he said unconsciously for a week and a half, that's how he felt.

"We have people who've been doing it and keeping it quiet for 20 years. But as long as you don't admit it then we think everything is okay."

But playwright and author Bonnie Greer told BBC radio Neeson's race comments were a "silly, stupid thing to do".

"We are in an age where people are very sensitive and you know, the fact that he doesn't understand what he's doing or what he's done is actually almost scarier than what he said.

"I don't know anybody who goes around wanting to kill people because of the colour of their skin."

US media reported that the red carpet event for Cold Pursuit's premiere had been cancelled in the wake of the controversy and the ensuing social media debate.

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Reuters/ABC

