Perhaps one of the biggest surprises in film and television last year was Liam Neesons cameo appearance on Atlanta. The actor appeared in the fourth season episode New Jazz and poked fun at his 2019 racism controversy. The actor ignited outrage on his Cold Pursuit press tour in February 2019 after revealing his past reaction to a friends sexual assault. Neesons friend was sexually assaulted by a Black man, so Neeson took to the streets with a weapon and hoped a Black bastard would come out of a pub and have a go at meso that I could kill him.
In a new interview with GQ magazine, Atlanta creator Donald Glover opened up for the first time about recruiting Neeson for an episode that mocked the actors racism controversy. Glover wrote the episode himself.
When I got in touch with him, Liam poured his heart out, Glover said. He was like, I am embarrassed. I dont know about this. Im trying to get away from that. And I was like, Man, Im telling you, this will be funny! And youll actually get a lot of cream from it because itll show youre sorry. He asked me to let him think about it. Then he sent me an email saying, I dont think I can do it and best of luck withAtlanta, blah-blah-blah.
Glover really wanted Neeson in the episode, so he reached out to a famous friend and Oscar winner for help.
Liam said [after the incident] he talked to Morgan Freeman, Jordan Peele and Spike Lee. So I was likeJordan Peele! Glover said. I hit Jordan Peele up and I was like, Look, man, I got this idea. He said that he trusted you. Tell him its a good idea!
Jordan thought it was hilarious! So Jordan talked to him. Liam hit me back and said he talked to Jordan and his son and thought itd actually be a good thing, Glover added. But what was so funny is, like, I forgot to hit Jordan back. I was so excited about Liam doing it. So Jordan hit a friend of mine, and was like, Am I on a prank show where Donald got me to forgive Liam Neeson? Was this a jokeon me?
In the Atlanta episode, Neeson plays a fictionalized version of himself who meets Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry) at a bar named the Cancel Club.
You mightve heard or read about my transgression, the fictionalized Neeson tells Paper Boi. You know, what I said about what I wanted to do to a Black guy, any Black guy, when I was a younger man in London. A friend of mine had been raped and I acted out of anger. I look back now and it honestly frightens me. I thought people knowing who I once was would make clear who I am, who Ive become. But with all that being said, I am sorry. I apologize if I hurt people.
Paper Boi tells Neeson that he still fucks with Taken, adding, Its good to know that you dont hate Black people now.
No, no I cant stand the lot of you, Neeson responds in the show. Well, now I feel that way because you tried to ruin my career. Didnt succeed, mind you. However, Im sure one day I will get over it, but until then, we are mortal enemies.
When Paper Boi asks Neeson if he learned that he cant say racist stuff like that, Neeson answers, Aye. But I also learned that the best and worst part of being white is that we dont have to learn anything if we dont want to.
The punchline was shocking, but casting Neeson as himself gave the Taken star a chance to apologize for his behavior with the support of Glover behind him. Amid intense backlash to his story in 2019, Neeson told Good Morning America that his urge to commit physical violence against any Black man shocked him, adding, It hurt me. I did seek help. I went to a priestI am not racist. This was nearly 40 years ago.
I was trying to show honor, to stand up for my dear friend in this terrible medieval fashion, Neeson said at the time. I am a fairly intelligent guy. Thats why it kind of shocked me when I came down to earth after having these terrible feelings. Luckily, no violence occurred. I did want to lash out because my friend was brutally raped and I was defending her honor. It was a learning curve.
Read Glovers full profile on GQs website.