Liam Neeson Has A Very Bad Take On The #MeToo Movement
The actor thinks there's "a bit of a witch hunt happening".
Liam Neeson has expressed his scepticism about the sexual misconduct allegations currently sweeping through Hollywood and the entertainment industry, in an uncomfortable appearance on Irish television.
“There is a bit of a witch hunt happening,” said the 65-year-old actor during an interview on popular talk show The Late Late Show. “There are some people – famous people – being suddenly accused of touching some girl’s knee or something, and suddenly they are being dropped from their programmes.”
Neeson brought up the case of American radio personality Garrison Keillor, who was fired from his job with Minnesota Public Radio over allegations of inappropriate behavior.
“He was listening to a sad story from a female friend of his,” said Neeson, relaying Keillor’s version of events. “At the end of this, he put his hand to her back [to console her], and she had a blouse on, and it was her bare back. And he immediately took his hand away and apologised. She said ‘don’t worry about it, forget about it’.”
“Months later, he gets a call from a lawyer, or his radio station does, saying he inappropriately touched this lady. And he was dropped like that.”
When Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy namechecked Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman as examples of other men who have been accused of inappropriate behaviour, Neeson appeared unconvinced.
“The Dustin Hoffman thing, I’m on the fence about that,” said Neeson after a pause. “When you’re doing a play, and you’re with your family — other actors, technicians — you do silly things. And it becomes superstitious, if you don’t do it every night you think it’s going to jinx the show.”
Neeson then donwplayed the suggestion that Hoffman groped a woman’s breast, describing it as “childhood stuff”.
Oh Liam, this is not the take https://t.co/l77PI6fgXj
— Dr Helen Ringrow (@HelenRingrow) January 12, 2018
Goddamnit, Liam Neeson. “Childhood stuff” is picking your nose, not poking a coworker’s breasts. #MeToo https://t.co/fm4OVfKmHD
— Jessie doesn’t need a tax break Losch❄️ (@JessieLosch) January 13, 2018
Wow, Liam Neeson is cancelled
— Stacy (@SilverStGroud) January 12, 2018
Hoffman has been accused of harassment and assault by multiple women, charges which he has strenuously denied. He was confronted about his alleged behaviour by Last Week Tonight host John Oliver during an extraordinary public exchange in December.
Neeson’s comments come a day after he criticised the gender wage gap in Hollywood as “fucking disgraceful”, while at the same time admitting he wouldn’t take a pay cut so his female co-stars could be paid more. So yeah, it’s not been a great week for his personal brand.
You can watch Neeson’s interview on The Late Late Show below.
Liam Neeson on the wave of sexual harassment allegations against high profile men in Hollywood #latelate pic.twitter.com/NzT0rWXf25
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) January 12, 2018