LIAM NEESON has described some of the cases in the recent spate of Hollywood sexual assault allegations as “a bit of a witch hunt”.
Speaking to Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show, about the #MeToo social media campaign started in the wake of accusations against Harvey Weinstein, the Irish actor appeared to praise the healthy movement of exposing sexual harassment in Hollywood.
He said: “There is a movement happening, it’s healthy and it’s across every industry.
“The focus seems to be on Hollywood at the minute but it’s across every industry.”
However he also appeared to criticise the treatment of stars accused of assault, who are dropped by their employers on the basis of allegations before anything has been proven.
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) 12 January 2018
“There is a bit of a witch hunt happening too,” he said.
“There’s some people, famous people, being suddenly accused of touching some girl’s knee or something, and suddenly they’re being dropped from their programme.”
He also described recent accusations against Dustin Hoffman as “childhood stuff”.
“I’m on the fence about that,” he said.
When you’re doing a play and you’re with your family, other actors, technicians, you do silly things and it becomes kind of superstitious.
“If you don’t do it every night you think it’s going to jinx the show.
“I’m not saying I’ve done similar things like what he did… but it’s childhood stuff.”
However Twitter was divided over Neeson’s comments.
Some supported the Ballymena actor and his ‘refreshing views’.
#LiamNeeson refreshing views on the Hollywood situation. People don't know what's going on in many cases and that's the point. Trial by social media is a cancer at the minute
— Barry Gleeson (@barry_glees) 12 January 2018
#LiamNeeson knows these people that have been tried & convicted on social media, interesting to see people now dump him for having an opinion other than the mob mentality, he is a brilliant actor & all round good guy & I bet you he is right on this #LateLateShow #latelate
— Ken Mc Fadden (@unspeakable28) 12 January 2018
#LiamNeeson is right. #MeToo is a witch hunt and an easy excuse for psycho women to take advantage of men. WHICH HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. Surely it didnt start this way but psychos see an opportunity and they’ll take it!
— Alicia (@Hooty117) 13 January 2018
#LiamNeeson is spot on.
Of course there will be an uproar, and people will call for a boycott of all things Liam Neeson, but everything he said there was right. https://t.co/A5UV88xXop
— I was saying boo-urns (@SoulStealer2011) 13 January 2018
At least Liam Neeson has the balls to answer questions about #metoo honestly, instead of spouting some PR contrived line. You mightn't like it but at least he's authentic and I don't think calling elements of it a witch hunt is that terribly untrue.
— Sarah Flynn (@RealSarahFlynn) 12 January 2018
I want poor, working class, middle-class & women not in or associated w/the entertainment industry to get justice as the #MeToo movt goes on. As far as celebrities are concerned, sorry if this makes me a bad feminist, but I agree with Liam Neeson that it has become a witch hunt
— Shashana (@Shashana80sKid) 13 January 2018
Liam Neeson over, says who? This is exactly why he said #metoo has turned into a witch hunt, all careers are at the mercy of a twitter mov’t
— Tommy Shelby?? (@Blick_Oyinbo) 13 January 2018
Some however felt his use of the term 'witch hunt' was inappropriate.
#LiamNeeson is turning out to be a disappointment. Won't take a pay cut to help gender inequality and now has belittled the sexual abuse of women calling it a bit of a witch hunt. Slow hand clap #MeToo
— EmilyS (@swordsevr) 13 January 2018
Disappointed by Liam Neeson’s comments. Reinforcing the idea that inappropriately touching women was the norm and therefore ok. The reference to a ‘witch hunt’ also irked me. #LateLateShow
— Dr. Michelle McMahon (@DrMMcMahonEP) 12 January 2018
Liam Neeson: witch hunt is a term for false accusations against the vulnerable by the powerful, so it’s not an accurate description of holding privileged men in power accountable for their actions.
A witch hunt never ends. We just want men to stop abusing their power.
— Melinda Byerley (@MJB_SF) 13 January 2018
Dear Liam Neeson, until you've been in the position of feeling completely vulnerable over the fear of being groped, shut up. What a disappointed he turned out to be. ??♀#MeToo #LateLateShow
— Clare burke (@ClareBurke_) 13 January 2018
As somebody who really enjoys #LiamNeeson as an actor, I feel disappointed & shocked by his attempts to brush misogyny and sexual assault under the carpet in his recent #LateLate interview.
— Jade Irwin (@jade_irwin) 13 January 2018
Hoffman has a pre-show superstition where he just *has* to sexually assault someone. We can all relate, right? #LiamNeeson #witchhunt
— Hattie Ladd (@HattieLadd) 13 January 2018
Dear Liam Neeson: the #MeToo movement has not become a bit of a "witch hunt." That statement along with the anecdote you describe misses the point entirely. Here's a good rule for men in Hollywood: hop on the train or get off the tracks and STFU.#TimesUp https://t.co/rzc0JmPsN1
— Andrew Wortman (@Amoney666) 13 January 2018
