Calls for Liam Neeson to be digitally removed from Men In Black after racist comments

The backlash against Liam Neeson over his racist comments has been swift and severe — and it’s not over yet.

Calls to remove Liam Neeson from the upcoming Men In Black movie are gathering steam online following the actor’s highly controversial statements about wanting to find and kill a “black b**tard”.

As previously reported, Neeson told an interviewer he walked the streets with a “cosh” years ago hoping a black man would accost him so he could take out his anger over the recent rape of a close friend.

The star appeared on Good Morning America to address the controversy, but fans far and wide felt he missed the mark once again.

“We were doing a press junket and the topic of our film was revenge,” he said. “The lady journalist was asking, ‘How do you tap into that?’ and I remembered an incident nearly 40 years ago when a friend of mine was brutally raped. I was out of the country, and when I came back she told me about this … I had never felt this feeling before which was a primal urge to lash out.”

Neeson’s attempt to clarify his comments on GMA didn’t really hit the mark.

Amid the swift backlash, the New York premiere of Neeson’s new film Cold Pursuit was cancelled at the last minute.

But the fallout isn’t over. A large contingent of critics are now using Twitter to call for Neeson’s character in the upcoming Men In Black International to be digitally removed.

The film takes place in the world of the first three Men In Black movies but stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson rather than any of the series’ original stars.

Chris Hemsworth in the new Men In Black movie.

Neeson plays one of the higher-up agents in the ranks, but several fans are asking for him to be given the boot.

“I really hope it’s not too late to digitally erase that racist f**k Liam Neeson from the new Men In Black movie,” one user wrote.

“Was really excited for Men in Black: International with @chrishemsworth & @TessaThompson_x. Was 1 of my most anticipated (sic) films for 2019. Hated his casting before the horrifying controversy, but now really hope it’s not too late to digitally erase racist f**k Liam Neeson from it,” another said.

“You can literally hear Liam Neeson evaporating from all the upcoming Men in Black International marketing,” wrote another.

You can literally hear Liam Neeson evaporating from all the upcoming Men in Black International marketing.

— C-Sleepio (@OhThatsJustRich) February 5, 2019

“@MenInBlack boycott Men In Black the gutless coward Liam Neeson said he was walking around looking to kill an innocent black man who had nothing to do with his personal issues he’s a gutless coward and a racist bigot boycott Men in Black,” a more blunt user noted.

Others noted the parallel between Neeson’s situation and the recent predicament the film All The Money In The World faced. When it was revealed Kevin Spacey was caught up in a sexual misconduct scandal, actor Christopher Plummer was brought in to do reshoots on the film so as to remove the spectre of Spacey entirely.

“I guess Sony pictures will soon be hiring Christopher Plummer to replace Liam Neeson in the upcoming Men In Black reboot,” one user joked.

@MenInBlack boycott Men In Black the gutless coward Liam Neeson said he was walking around looking to kill an innocent black man who had nothing to do with his personal issues he's a gutless coward and a racist bigot boycott Men in Black

— Denn Grey (@DennGrey) February 4, 2019

“Christopher Plummer is currently reshooting Liam Neeson’s scenes in Men In Black International,” said another.

Christopher Plummer is currently reshooting Liam Neeson's scenes in Men In Black International.... pic.twitter.com/Nt0543NFxe

— soapy pitts (@boosh71) February 4, 2019

This story originally appeared in Fox News and is republished here with permission

Originally published as Calls for Liam Neeson to be digitally removed from Men In Black after racist comments