Liam Neeson is facing accusations of racism over comments he made in an interview with The Independent in which he revealed he sought racially charged revenge after the rape of a loved one.

According to Neeson, following the incident, he responded by trying to seek revenge on a “black bastard” after learning the attacker was an African American man.

“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 ‘black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him,” he said.

The story and the actor’s comments, which Neeson shared while promoting his new film Cold Pursuit, have resulted in a wave of backlash.

On social media, where Neeson’s story went viral, people immediately took offence to the Taken star’s comments.

American film producer Tariq Nasheed said: “Keep in mind that Liam Neeson didn’t say he just has some ‘revenge fantasy’. He actually went out for a week LOOKING for a black person to kill, but he couldn’t find one.”

One user on Twitter asked: “Would Liam Neeson have that same energy if the attacker was white?”

Others pointed out the racial inequality exemplified by the actor’s admission, which Neeson himself acknowledged was “horrible”.

“Liam Neeson being ready to take any black life over what one person allegedly did just shows how meaningless and inconsequential black lives are to some,” one person wrote on Twitter. “Even him telling the story demonstrates a level of privilege and understanding that there may not be repercussions.”

Neeson’s immediate focus on the race of the attacker was also criticised – after he’d revealed his second question was “What colour were they”.

“Not how old were they? How tall were they? You just asked what colour were they? I don’t care how sorry you are, Liam Neeson, that is disgusting,” BuzzFeed reporter Hannah Al-Othman responded.

The comments came as the US is dealing with another racial controversy relating to the governor of Virginia.

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Democrat Ralph Northam is seeking to reject calls for his resignation after images were published from his 1984 high school year book that showed two students attending a fancy dress party. One had their face in so-called “black face”, while the other was dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Mr Northam initially said he believed he was one of the students photographed and apologised.

“This behaviour is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service,” he said in a statement that was released as the country prepared to mark black history month. “But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment.”

He later said he had concluded it was not him in the photograph. Since then, he has been trying to brush off demands from both Republicans and members of his own party that he stand down.

Neeson made the controversial comments after being asked to explain his Cold Pursuit character, Nels Coxman’s, need for revenge after his son is killed by a drug gang.

Talking about onscreen violence, Neeson said: “I think audience members live to see that. They can kind of live vicariously through it. People say, ‘Yeah but violence in films makes people want to go out and kill people.’ I don’t believe that at all.

“I think the average moviegoer thinks, ‘Yeah, punch him. Punch him.’ And they get a satisfaction out of seeing somebody else enact it, and they leave the theatre and they feel satiated in some way.”

The Independent contacted Neeson’s publicist for further comment but he declined.