Liam Neeson’s Racist Confession - Between the Scenes | The Daily Show

[@lisaesmeralda9112]

I love how he can just put stuff into perspective and give both sides of an argument and also make you laugh with his little cute self

[@mdruffy235]

"with his little cute self" That seems kind of sexist and like it really should not have made it into this otherwise pretty alright post.

[@duustincrawford2945]

@@mdruffy235 sexist?

[@mdruffy235]

@@duustincrawford2945 Well, imagine the same comment directed at a woman. It would be seen as belitteling and - if it comes from the opposite sex - sexist. But sexism isn't a one way street.

[@nfzeta128]

@@mdruffy235 this is why context matters and in this context is pretty much just a compliment.

[@jettanyiagumbs6091]

IKR😏

[@martinjp1]

I would rather a person admitted that decades ago, they once harboured a racist thought, and realised it was wrong than a person who says that they are not racist and have never had a racist thought.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Yes! This reminds me of what Trevor said about two different types of racism on his interview on Hot Ones.

[@nayosilver1180]

Are ypu aware that racism is something that is too big of a deal mainly in the US?? I mean, we know that racist behaviour could be present in other countries, but much much less than in the US. You are practically the only ones that are very focused in the type of race other people are, in order to discriminate them just because they are not similar to your skin colour, language or culture.

[@VMitch-ng7tg]

@@nayosilver1180 I disagree. I think were just one of few countries that addresses racism as an issue and actually talks openly about it.

[@Valpo2004]

@@nayosilver1180 I disagree as well. In Europe they have had to put a lot of effort into eliminating racism from soccer into the modern day. African American soccer players who have played in Europe have said they where shocked by the amount of racist behavior there. This is a world wide issue.

[@DeKapiTijn]

@wings of a butterfly Hey guys, please don't use genetics to justify racism. If my evolutionary psychology understanding is correct; humans are inherently protective of their tribe, yes. But it's up to you whether you exclude people of different races or genders from your tribe. Racism is taught, not inherited. Yes, it is a global issue. But the disparity you guys have in the US of A is still a whole lot bigger than here in Europe. We have a lot of issues still, the Netherlands has had a holiday that involves blackface for the better part of a hunderd years, along with plenty of institutional and individual problems, and it's still not gone, and we need to fix this shit here too. But unprosecuted killings of black people, the skewed incarceration system, and believing white men should be the ruling class is by and large a you thing.

[@russellnyoni914]

As a black man I have no problem with what Liam said.Liam had a racist thought fuelled by revenge for a week,he criticised himself,corrected himself and admitted to it on national televeision in a world of online sharks and people want to end his career because he was honest about it???smh,The fight for equality is all about open dialogue, and when it is done purely, harsh facts come out.I respect Liam for being a stand up Man and not pretending to have been born perfect. Having a thought pertaining a particular race doesn't simply make you a racist!

[@whizkidd2227]

I agree with most of what you said. Where I disagree with you is the part about having a racists thought doesn't make you races is a bit confusing to me. Thoughts are the seed to actions and not only did he have a thought he also acted on it. Now I don't think he is races he he had a experience and that experience give him a feel that feel give him a idea he acting on idea. But what is important is he look back on that chain of action and decided to correct it. I also don't think just because someone seeks retribution that the other person has to except.

[@BrooklynBeTheBoro]

Russell Nyoni he didn't have a racist thought, he had a vendetta based on a racist belief. By his own admission he specifically asked his female acquaintance what the race of the rapist was. He didn't ask about height, scars, clothing, or where she might have encountered him. He asked what race the individual was. He then walked the streets with the intention of accosting someone like me or you, for an entire week. In his mind the only thing that would have satisfied him was to visit pain upon any member of a specific race. That is the definition of hatred and racism. I don't give a fuck how much I liked Liam Neeson in the past, his admission that murdering any Black man would do is enough to nullify any previous respect I had for him. And the reality is that there are many more people like him that we have to interact with everyday. Some of them wear badges, some of them work in human resources, and some of them currently work in the White House. I refuse to excuse it as a past faux pas on Neeson's part because I would be doing a disservice to my four Black sons. And in fact I take issue with your attempt to paint his critics as "sharks" for pointing out the obvious offense of his admission. You have a right to your opinion but it seems very obtuse and counterintuitive.

[@russellnyoni914]

@@whizkidd2227he didn't act on it.he clearly said he hope some 'black bastars would attack him/have a go at him and he would take it out on him.now I'm not justifying the actions he was ready to take but I'm saying i understand.the idea is not to demonize people,the idea is to illuminate them and have them understand that we are all similar in our differences. PS:He did confirm that he asked about other features i.e height,weight,before he asked for the race.he had 'A' racist thought and killed it then decided to be frank about it Now you want to drag hi even lower why???

[@elbertcortes]

@@BrooklynBeTheBoro That is a lie tho, He said that he asks her how he was and she told him it was a black person.

[@jellybean7283]

@@elbertcortes he asked her what color the person was and she said black. I heard the audio on Instagram

[@Jp-be9xx]

" Clearly your particular set of skills doesn't include shutting the f*#k up" 😂🤣

[@Darkrosefae]

I laughed so hard that I cried at this

[@igorjajic6898]

@@Darkrosefae TRUTH IS ALWAYS FUNNIEST

[@patriciabusch4599]

Lmao!! That was hilarious 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@BellaBaileyVito]

Finally a REASONABLE response. People have blown this up to such a level that they completely missed the whole point. Hate and anger lives in all of us, it's how we deal with it that makes us who we are. Liam was wrong for generalizing they way he did. It was racist. But he was able to recognize that it was wrong and he got help to deal with his negative feelings. I rather that than someone who actually acts on it and walks away thinking he made the world a better place by killing/hurting an innocent human being.

[@Austamala]

I wouldn't say that other people's responses are unreasonable. As a black person I think its totally reasonable to be outraged and that's also part of what Trevor said. Liam got help which was great or whatever but his outright denial of being racist as Trevor said rings false and is upsetting in it's own right. We just need more nuance all around in terms of tackling both sides of this not just on Liam's side but on the side of black people who are justified in their anger as well

[@freakindamnshiki]

how is this reasonable? he parts from the basis that Liam admited that he wanted to kill every black man...that is no where near the truth.... not even close to it. he talked for 3 min about a subject, sayed nothing and was based on a premised of a racism that never existed, Liam wanted to kill a black man, because it was one that raped his friend, he did not wanted to lash on the entire race... sure he may have killed an innocent man out of rage, and that is the point in question, if it was a white man he would have done the same, would he be racist also? the premise is wrong, just because he sayed he wanted to kill a black man out of rage, does not make him want to kill EVERY black man

[@KatarinaS.]

@@freakindamnshiki I don't know that it's quite the same. I don't believe that he would've gone out & looked for a random white man to kill had it been a white man that raped his friend. It seemed that he wanted to take his fury out on a black man specifically because the perp was singled out as a black man. Of course, he didn't do it, thank goodness, & he was wise enough to seek help & realized it was wrong to act on his feelings. I just don't think that his response would've been the same had it been a white guy that did it, & I think that's the point. Maybe there was some underlying racism that surfaced under the circumstances. The thing is, how does killing an innocent man help anything? She would still remain a victim of rape, the bad guy would still be out there walking the streets, Liam likely would've ended up in trouble with the law, meanwhile an innocent man & his family would suffer for someone else's crime. Bad outcome all the way around.

[@freakindamnshiki]

@@KatarinaS. i actually think he would have done the same if it was any other race, because it was not an act of racism, but an acto of rage and vengence, he was trying to lash on someone that would do that to a dear friend of his, i think the point is that, rage blinds you to do stupid shit. Now that is was i took from his story, it was a black man that raped her, so he was looking for a black man to lash out, i think he would do the same to any other, the fact was not because it was a black man just because it was black

[@andrewg3768]

@@Austamala it happened 40 years ago not now..Go and watch the video by the former English Football player John (can't remember his surname starts with b I tink). He is well spoken and a black man and he isn't outraged!

[@catalinacurio]

As always, love your honest, balanced perspective Trevor.

[@RobVespa]

...but it isn't?

[@thelionprince4530]

@@RobVespa quit trolling....

[@badseedent4827]

Honest pc narrative

[@jtownants3215]

@@badseedent4827 at least you admit its honest.

[@evanadams19]

When is it balanced

[@Enigma2K99]

Book Liam for an interview, Trevor.

[@margaretjones4682]

Yes!

[@blacktellytubby5506]

Really, he should

[@Enigma2K99]

@@justicewarrior9187 Just stop. It was bullshit when you thought it up, it's bullshit now.

[@jakearmitage7811]

@@Enigma2K99 Uh no it isn't, it actually happened, get over it.

[@Arcaryon]

@@justicewarrior9187 www.snopes.com/fact-check/clinton-byrd-photo-klan/ She wasn't... She is a cold hearted woman but not an idiot.

[@In2MeUcU]

I'm still trying to erase the racism I was taught as a child... Maybe you can try as well... We're all brothers and sister in the end!

[@afrowarrior102]

That's great man. We need more of that.

[@eliteviktor3]

Imagine how racist Trevor Noah would feel like to a random guy in afrika, when you hear his impressions on africans. (the fact that he is white and grew up white.)

[@getlost2097]

ikr....btw bruh I'm broke, maybe yo can lend me some bucks...we are brothuh after all.😳😳😳

[@afrowarrior102]

@@eliteviktor3 You do realize that Trevor is South African right?

[@dreamervanroom]

If we are to talk about it. If we can see and accept the ability to notice flaws within ourself, we may want to talk about it, bring it to awareness as part of the process of changing.

[@beatsmith]

Trevor Nailed this on the most thoughtful way. Well done!

[@NWforager]

this is so far the best take ive heard on the Liam thing .

[@2dguy284]

Check this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJaZZ4FsjbBrbq8

[@marcellushendricks7263]

It is.

[@johnSmith-tl5gv]

2Dguy 100% IGN would recommend

[@kaigreen5641]

@@2dguy284 was gonna recommend that one too. John Barnes is a damn legend.

[@Pntngbrn]

@@2dguy284 thanks I watched that. Very interesting

[@aliyunura451]

I love Trevor's Grandpa wisdom

[@skjelm6363]

Really? It is common sense here. You don't have to look up to some far away imagined wisdom. Please just don't love it, better be like that.

[@ginaweith9475]

He does have the wisdom of a a 150 year old, doesn’t he? A young man to have such an old soul.

[@solala1312]

his grandma is bomb too

[@skjelm6363]

@@ginaweith9475 it is called "logic" and "rationality". You don't have to get that old and you can learn it much earlier. Please stop praising normal things. Just start thinking for yourself.

[@anthonyellis4915]

@@skjelm6363 You think it's normal? You will learn. 😁

[@LloydWaldo]

I love Trevor. He puts it perfectly: “it’s what he said but not what he was saying.”

[@liamneeson1281]

Thanks dear and nice to meet you 💝

[@jlomex8905]

It takes talent to be funny and coherent on telling that. Nice Trevor

[@iont8172]

Intelligence too!

[@seanmoore10]

Exactly, Ion T. These questions are on the spot, from a random audience member. Trevor shows his wisdom and intelligence. This was fantastic.

[@eriothkeruma6643]

True not everyone but every once in a while the past comes into play and the next minute .....your looking at every white person like.... But that being said, I wish color, religious beliefs and all would have no place in our treatment of other people or thoughts. Forgiveness, judgement and acceptance are the hardest things to master no matter the situation

[@Verlarn]

_"There's no value in atoning."_ Honestly, this is a issue nowadays. There's no space for personal growth. If you've done something people find distasteful, no matter how long ago, no matter how you've evolved as a person, it will ruin you if made public. You can lose everything and that doesn't create a atmosphere for confronting past wrongdoings, or admitting guilt. It creates vultures, looking for the next person to fall, and I'm so tired of seeing it. There's certain actions, behaviors that warrant the anger and 'cancel culture' that has become the norm, but too often it's applied for the wrong things.

[@nfzeta128]

This is the sad truth. Its all just another thing that's gone too far. People don't know about nuance or moderation any more. Forgiveness doesn't seem to exist and understanding may have been shot trying to save common sense. How can there not be sides when anyone hovering around the middle are pointed out by whatever side they're judged to be slightly further from and basically pushed into becoming what people say they are.

[@koneh6666]

It's definitely a problem, but at the same time talking is cheap and to have every public figure summon a press conference where they give a milquetoast apology, for every single thing doesn't necessarily imply growth, most times it's just damage control. But as we can't tell what's in someone's heart and mind, alas 😑

[@noisetv1863]

I think at least part of it stems from our "clickbait" culture where people are so quick to repost these sorts of headlines, or make a meme or something out of them, or give their own hot take on it (often without even reading an article) just to get a "like" or whatever... and then move onto the next thing. It's like a mob mentality but the mob only has a 2 second attention span. Not sure if i am expressing the idea clearly enough, but maybe you know what I mean.

[@Verlarn]

@@noisetv1863 I understand what you mean. I wish there was a middle ground, but the internet has had a big part in whittling it away.

[@Verlarn]

@@koneh6666 You're not wrong about that either. It's a very nuanced issue, but it provokes knee jerk reactions that ruins so much. At the end of the day, it comes down to the internet's attention span, and people's willingness to look into gray areas instead of black and white. Sadly people will try, as you mentioned, to save face and spit out disingenuous apologies, but that shouldn't close the door for broader thinking overall.

[@EmmanuelleVieyra]

Finally, somebody with a brain!! Trevor never disappoints he is one of the best night show hosts out there.

[@noneya1238]

Yay Trevor gets our inherited hate! So sad lol you all need help.

[@margaritam.9118]

Curia Regis Um, do you know why blacks in America are light-skinned? Hint: not because of consensual sexual relationship their female ancestors had with their male ancestors. So shut the fuck up. Some people in this country can get away with ANYTHING. As they are covered by police and the government.

[@williammickle9947]

@Curia Regis Black White Purple you are an ugly soul

[@christianschoff2490]

@Curia Regis not a bit of that was true, you racist fuck.

[@fullmetalprism5249]

Curia Regis hahahahahaha hahahahahahahah!😂😂🤣 damn you are ignorant 🤦‍♀️

[@patrickkilduff5272]

Why isn't this the whole show?? Just Trevor and an audience bouncing ideas off each other...great stuff.

[@kharris9359]

Always the same topics--- the U.S. is awfully racist, Trump is bad, Republicans are unbearable.

[@SunraeSkatimunggr]

Very wise young man you are Trevor. Love your thoughts.

[@triggerhappy6398]

remember when right wingers used to say trevor was a race baiter. i bet they biting their tongues now.

[@coreyanderson8592]

HOLY SHIT!.. Trevor said the exact same thing I was thinkin. If Liam wanted to talk about that incident he should have went on Oprah, The View or hell, SWay in the Morning or The Breakfast Club. And people would have respected him more on both sides

[@nathanrolls4015]

Triggerhappy when did politics come into this? It’s about race

[@triggerhappy6398]

@@nathanrolls4015 I'm stating the irony of how he's glad that Liam Nelson has performed himself and the fact that Trevor kind of agrees with his grievances

[@DerekFullerWhoIsGovt]

I love the "Oprah Hypothesis".

[@sherryhartin2055]

Me too

[@Pik3rob]

it was a pretty stupid hypothesis because in his original comments, it was painfully clear what his intentions were and his shame in his past. being on Oprah or somewhere else wouldn't have helped him. People would still be angry at him.

[@monkeywage]

Just want to point out that you're a racist. If you still doesn't know why what you just typed is racism then sorry, can't help you with your lack of learning ability.

[@DerekFullerWhoIsGovt]

Context is everything.

[@monkeywage]

Why are you proud for being dumb? Here's what a "racist" boiled down to: someone who takes the wrong conclusion from a biased, wrong-headed data. You claimed that blacks committed more crime than whites. That data is correct. Your conclusion is dead wrong. You proudly attribute this to their being black instead of another factor, such as economic situation, standard of living and/or education level. This is like saying "white people are more corrupt, just look at all the corrupt politicians, there are more corrupt whites than blacks". Their skin color or ethnicity has nothing to do with their actions. There is nothing in our gene code that would predispose us to more crime that affects skin color or appearance. That's just science. So you're proud for being dumb. Like someone who picked up a pebble and then it started to rain and thought "I just found a magic pebble that can cause rain!". DUMB. Correlation does not necessarily mean causation. -- unless a white person gives up all sense of racial identity and speaks only good things about non-whites they are "racist." -- There's no such thing as racial identity. You have cultural identity. People don't act a certain way just because of their genetic lineage. They do so because of how they're brought up. Culture. And if you think your "racial identity" is "I'm white so I'm better than you" then yes, you're a racist. Because you're being dumb and attribute your perceived superiority to your skin color. Really now. What is the "racial identity" of the "white race"? Tap dancing? Hot dogs? Polo shirt with a sweater tied around your neck? (hint: all of those are culture)

[@Trendyflute]

I always thought that Liam's statement was ENTIRELY about self-admission, self-reflection, acknowledging his shame, and putting it out into the world to encourage others to evolve like he did. He understands the motivation of racists, and also understands how to transcend. Liam's statement was, I think, overall very positive. I'm glad to hear Trevor understands it like I do.

[@REDONE-po1nb]

Whatever nick ..

[@REDONE-po1nb]

Mark what world do you live in ..

[@xman9190]

Actually, his original statement was about the craft of acting, but you can change it to suit your narrative since you can't deal with the truth.

[@michaelmaclane5004]

Man, you're soooooo incredibly informed. Must be nice. I, personally, envy you.

[@music66swan]

I'm black and from the UK where this incident most likely took place as there were no black areas in northern Ireland 40 years ago . I believe black people currently make up just over 1% in Ireland , he could of walked around prowling menacingly for 52 weeks 40 years ago and never seen a black person. England however is another story and has many black areas (ghettos) in birmingham , london, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham etc. Where he could of walked around to find a victim for his murderous racist intentions. Many black people 40 years ago were the fatal victims of these type of racist unprovoked attacks in those days I myself faced many unprovoked attacks by people like liam ,even big grown men racially attacked me when i was only a young child of 11 ,but thank God they weren't fatal. He was definitely a racist thug and he may well of changed his ways since excising his demons in his revenge /vigilante orientated Hollywood films. However what he described was a failed attempt of what would of been if successful a racially motivated murder.

[@soapnorm]

Trevor Noah is so smart. Bow down to critical thinking.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

@mysterychemistry that's the point. Racism isn't a "yes or no" "you're either are racist or not" thing. Watch his interview on Hot Ones.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

@mysterychemistry Well if that's your main point then I agree, even us Asians in Asian countires can have prejudices against other Asians. But such degree is more apparent, intra-wise, when it comes to social classes (since eastern countries tend to be more homogenous than the west, meaning we don't have the usual "racial factor" to blame).

[@nayosilver1180]

I don't think smart is the main characteristic of mr Trevor....I'd say he's funny, clever and alert.

[@WesAppe21]

When a black person is mindful of a history and pattern of behavior of a certain group of people it is only being wise. Now that is different from going out on a limb and attacking or accosting white people. What I have come to learn about them is that they are inherently “ethnocentric “. They truly believe without a shadow of a doubt that their way and only their way is the way to do things. It is later in life or when they travel and get exposed that they begin to exercise those open-minded muscles a bit more but by and large they tend to be very myopic in their thought processes. I do NOT think a black person being mindful of the potential danger from a white person is bad but just the result of history. I have often felt that they are also wary of black people because they are aware of the history of what they did because if their ancestors.

[@n.c.1201]

@@cheesecakelasagna regarding this Hot One thing I would like to watch. As I listen to Noah he is always saying things are black and white when they are convenient to make a point and then perhaps he does come off as 'nothing black and white' when it's also convenient. That to me is a shitty way of being a media figure. You need to understand that not everything is black and white ALL THE TIME, not for your convenience. Example, Noah says I am racist because I (white woman) dressed up as my favorite character Mr. Eko (black man) from the TV show LOST in order to celebrate how great of a TV show I felt it was in celebration of season finales. Again, not only does he paint me as racist but would I be sexist as well? Or is he someone who feels like I can change my gender any day I want? I don't know him well enough to have heard his opinion on gender flip flopping.

[@ViolentOrchid]

Exactly, he was expressing how insidious it was. It was racism, totally and completely. But he internalized the important part, how fucking awful even the idea was. The internalized response is what we need everyone to have until racism isn't a thing anymore. That silent, head-voice, negative reenforcement will be the only thing that ultimately saves us from ourselves.

[@margaretjones4682]

@@suckapunch565, well said! Very well said!

[@ariyuril]

Curia Regis Jesus Christ man get help, at least Liam Neeson owned up to his racism.

[@margaretjones4682]

@@DollFaceKimmy, excellently put!

[@ariyuril]

Just-Passing-Through 11 No? I was replying to some dude here with way too much internalised bullshit.

[@lucahamilton6513]

No he was angry about what happend to his friend

[@Wolf_Mama]

I'm a black person, and I thought it was very courageous for Liam to admit that he had some very racist thoughts brewing in his head at that time. The rape definately didn't help matters at all. But, he was able to snap out of it and admit he was wrong - not a lot of people are willing to admit that to themselves, let alone in front of millions on radio.

[@nikkarter5578]

You're not black!

[@savannawilliams1955]

@@nikkarter5578 and how do you know that. A lot of black people weren't even mad at him

[@Yoshsterpalooza]

Wolf Mama what the fuck? It has nothing to do with race you moron. It had everything to do with revenge

[@DRush76]

@@nikkarter5578 I'm black. And I agree with Wolf Mama. If Neeson had been black, would you have been more forgiving?

[@nikkarter5578]

@zan zy EXACTLY

[@kelly2fly]

Trevor is young but very wise. One of the best role model for people to follow.

[@zet99darius87]

So anti Semitic jokes he wrote are not considered anti Semitic now?

[@Desh727]

Lol... no he isn't.

[@michiganpatriot5322]

You must be a liberal if you think this guy is a role model or an intellectual. Anti white bullshit liberal propaganda weekly!

[@martinigasolini4062]

Lol Trevor Noah is a moron

[@mustardseed308]

Absolutely, he's best role model for whites too, especially kids.

[@lisalynnn]

I'm probably going to be attacked for telling this, but I think it's important to show how trauma can skew your point of view. I was assaulted sexually by a black man. For about two years, I was terrified by all black men. My trauma redefined my ability to separate my attacker from anyone who looked like him. It took a few years of intense therapy to get me back to a place where I could be comfortable with black men and separate every black man from the individual who traumatized me. I've felt so guilt over how much time I spent in this state of mind. I don't ever want to return to that way of thinking. Edit: The point I'm trying to make is that I understand where he was coming from. It doesn't make it right, but I do see how this could affect him. Edit 2: To address a common comment, I don't know if I would have responded the same way if it was a white man who assaulted me because that was not my experience. I'm became wary of most men and men who looked like my attacker in particular. You all seem to be ignoring the fact that I knew the way I felt wasn't tied to reality or rationality. It's why I sought help. When people are assaulted, many of their brains reroute or rewire to protect them from the shock and trauma they've experienced. I was in shock and my brain circumvented all rationale. I no longer feel this way about black men, but I still have issues tired to my attacker. He was wearing red tennis shoes. It may seem stupid, but I'm afraid of any man wearing red shoes. I may smell his cologne on other men and it causes me to freeze. I didn't go into so may details because it wasn't the focus of my experience that I wanted to share. For everyone who have hate filled opinions, that's your own prerogative. I can't change your minds nor will I attempt to do so.

[@hanchan1673]

Lisa L very insightful comment. im proud you offered to share your story. us girls go through so much crap so i hope you’re doing better and that you grow stronger every day. ❤️❤️❤️

[@lisalynnn]

@@hanchan1673 thank you. I am doing well now. It almost completely damaged my relationships with some of our black friends and family members. I was just in a really bad place and I lashed out at those who were trying to love me and support me through that experience. I'm grateful they stuck with me. Being sexually assaulted is traumatic and we girls do go through a lot. I still deal with the PTSD that it caused. But, I'm determined to take my life back completely and I'm working hard to do so. What really makes me sad is the conversations I have to have with my daughters. I have to give them ways to keep from being assaulted. It's a very sad truth and I pray it changes.

[@claireholtak1711]

Totally, that isn't straight racism, its trauma profiling out people who may be a danger to you. Leave it to fester though and its one of the roots of future racism.

[@booknerdjebbi5037]

@@pennie6330 Yeah but did you personally experience slavery the way that girl personally experienced rape? I hate when people say "you survived" as if they're saying "get over it", she had a trauma and she realized how it effected her and put in the intensive work to get better. You don't get to just come on here and minimize all that she's been through. That's as if a white person were to say "you didn't live through slavery, you're alive. Get over it." At least that's the tone I'm getting. If you meant it in a sympathetic, "I'm going through it too" type of way, then I apologize for wrongly criticizing you. Either way, I wish you the best.

[@AB-tr5iy]

@Big C 🙌👏👏👏 Thank you. I was thinking the same thing, but you've worded my thought perfectly. I'm English.

[@HailG3]

Finally someone who doesn't jump on the headline but actually looks into the situation and tries to consider every aspect. I agree with Trevor's analysis wholeheartedly.

[@ekaterinas8796]

HailG3 yeah, might be b/c he ain‘t American. He has a totally different way of thinking!!!

[@necoragha65]

@@ekaterinas8796 You might very well have a point. I'm European and I always saw it as Trevor's analysis. I didn't understand the commotion, I felt it was way over the top while Liam Neeson had only had the courage to be this honest about his past.

[@africanandproud6792]

I am a black man but I think Liam is being treated unfairly. I have had racist thoughts a few times in my life(who has not). But I am not defined by a few thoughts I have had over 4 decades of living. I am not a racist, and neither is Liam. In fact, he is a hero for being open and honest about his thoughts. He should be thanked, not condemned.

[@richardbryant3169]

Very well said.

[@africanandproud6792]

@@richardbryant3169 Thank you sir.

[@richardbryant3169]

I agree 100 percent of what you said, I'm white and I'm most definitely not racist but like you said who hasn't at least once in their life time thought of something they shouldn't of, usually in the heat of the moment, at the end of the day whilst I don't agree with what Liam thought or potentially could of done he came to his senses and Is appalled at himself for it, I admire his honesty because it was a very brave thing to admit to, knowing the certain backslash he was going to receive, I think talking about taboo subjects like this can only be a positive thing and gets things out in the open.

[@africanandproud6792]

@@richardbryant3169 It's so true. I think the self righteousness is what I find horrible. So people will condemn and judge this gentleman because of a thought that crossed his mind all those many years ago. Are we gonna pretend like we've never entertained such thoughts before? No one is perfect. I have always liked him, but now I like him more. He is a real man.

[@richardbryant3169]

@@africanandproud6792 exactly, show me a perfect person of any race.

[@jellybean7283]

I love you Trevor, I'm so proud of you 😢

[@gaia8187]

Mama?

[@aminatamaiga1]

The way he said “you gonna kill ANY black man for what A black man has done” really hit home for me, personally. This is what Muslims have been trying to say for the last 20 something years. But Trevor said it perfectly! You can’t kill and entire population of community of people for the actions of one. Now, I am happy. Love and support to Trevor Noah! ❤️ 😃

[@maximilianjohandson3382]

I totally agree with that. But islamic violence isn’t a one of event. If you read the islamic scripture it becomes very clear why islam is practically the only religion that have the level of violence it has. Muslims are not to blame though. The Islamic doctrine is. We need to support moderate muslims so they can make islam the religion of peace they claim it to be.

[@babascamdev8020]

@@maximilianjohandson3382 thats because like trevor said people take it in a different meaning than its supposed to be !! , like when quran talks about war it was actually about how the quraysh tribe invaded prophet muhammeds city so he had to defend it , but some people who wants to defame islam changes the meaning of it and recruits easily brainwashed people to cause terror and defame islam and muslims

[@pranavdwaraknath6401]

Lol thats not what Liam said. Trevor as usual has blown it out of proportion to suit his bias.

[@macummings7818]

Thank you for sharing! ❤️

[@saleem2724]

@@maximilianjohandson3382 prove it

[@jifo5]

I think its great that Trevor brought something out, we all suffer from this in one moment or another. We all can become racist for what one person may do to use or a loved one. Ask guys in the military. I am a Vietnam veteran and there was a time I hated all Vietnamese for what the Vietnamese did to friends. But then again we had no business being there. We killed 1.2 million and they killed over 58 thousand of our guys. What was that for? We hate people of the middle east for what 14 people did on 9/11, In WW2 American soldiers killed the enemy even when they surrendered, why? As long as we don't see each other as one Race. We will continue to generalize for revenge. We are not following the teachings of the God of Abraham or his commandments.

[@ignatiusmaziofa2393]

great wisdom in your words sir...i believe good will triumph in the end...

[@coolnameism]

Well said and thanks for your service.

[@riverjoe100]

Jorge Font thank you for your honesty. Such wisdom.

[@rafaelalvarez1976]

You are blessed to have attained clarity.

[@lenfantcheri159]

Thank you for being real about the struggle but rising above the impulse and thank you for your sacrifice in service ..i want to live in a world that we can real about the struggle but there is a path to redemption

[@hazmatprotects]

INTERVIEW HIM TREVOORRRR LET THE OPRAH MOMENT HAPPEN

[@taehyunkim5709]

Haha

[@sigridmaignan6245]

That would be interesting!

[@eddradcliffe]

Trevor, invite Liam on and have the Oprah conversation.

[@nubastyle]

@Peder Hansen no what he said was valid. We even have white military vets commenting on here that agree with Trevor. You clearly have issues...

[@chefbanjo8139]

He’s so great off the cuff. Clearly he didn’t prepare this beforehand, he’s just that good at a moments notice.

[@Cozmicsaber]

Trevor Noah PLEASE INTERVIEW HIM. JUST MAKE IT HAPPEN

[@GrahamCStrouse]

CozmicSaber's Opinions That would make for an awesome episode. Given their upbringings I think it would be better than an Oprah interview.

[@UriValdez]

I love that Trevor its not biased, and truly has intelligent thinking!

[@interfilamentar413]

Trevor has a bias, but at least I don't think he's trying to tow the line for his side non-stop. I think he's an intelligent thinking person who's also a product of his environment. We can call this "implicit bias". Whereas there are other people who aren't even shielding the fact that they don't care about right or wrong, or nuance, they just want to push their team's agenda no matter what. Or worse, some people want to use the truth/facts to push their side's narrative. Trevor is squarely inside the left sphere of perception, and it seems to be his default, but I appreciate that he makes and effort to have his own thoughts.

[@Gennethel]

@@interfilamentar413 I agree. I personally believe so long as one has deeply held beliefs they will have bias, for that is the nature of deeply held beliefs, they influence our day to day actions and views.

[@maxmilian3229]

Interfilamentar It’s not about left or right, it’s about seeing every situation from the logical, reasoning, and human perspective. It’s called thinking before speaking.

[@Danno1850]

Everyone is bias, for reference check out his response to Serena Williams yelling obscenities at a ref. With that said he does try to see the other side of issues as much as one can in a comedy show.

[@Bryguy_Gaming]

He does he thinks that was racism

[@shaileshrana7165]

Godammit this is such a cogent analysis on the fly. Respect, man!

[@Tantalus010]

I know! Trevor is really good at that, and it's not an easy thing to be good at, especially in this day and age when everybody flies off the handle at the first sign of trouble.

[@PrimitiveFilmGroup]

If you really believe these segments are on the fly that's hilarious lol 😂😂😂 it's all prepared

[@Kuriousape]

It was well put by Trevor, but John Barnes (black former UK soccer player and England player) said very similar things. I’m not saying the two were influenced by each other, but the feeling and approach provided by the programme isn’t a unique one. It doesn’t have to be, and this is not a criticism, but I think it’s a shame that the more nuanced arguments about this and many issues aren’t aired on mass conventional media whereas what is aired is dog whistle sound bites without context. Just an opinion.

[@mrmomoneytrain]

"Clearly your set of skills doesn't include stfu." 😂😂😂 classic! 😂😂😂

[@AmbyJeans]

Thank you Trevor! That was my exact take on it.

[@ilikecommenting6849]

AmbyJeans I think Trevor is wrong. Liam was looking for a black person to do something wrong so he could express his anger in a ‘justified’ violent matter. He didn’t want to just kill any random black man as is evidenced by the fact that he didn’t do so. If the rapist would have been a ginger, liam would have said the same thing and no-one would have bat an eye. Black here is used in a descriptive manner and not a racial manner.

[@Snappldel]

Ilikecommenting Regardless if people bat an eye or not, it would still be racist or a hate crime against a certain group of people with a certain type of complexion or facial characteristics. Whether it was a man with blue eyes, or brunette, or blond, or a military man, or a white man, or a Mexican man. It doesn’t matter, he chose to hunt for a man of a certain group and it happened to be a man from the black race, so he had a very racist thought and intention. Mind you, he didn’t care if the man he picked had done the actual crime or not. He just wanted any Blackman to pay. And that’s very wrong and the very definition of racism.

[@AmbyJeans]

Ilikecommenting So bc he didn't actually attack a black person that's evidence that it wasn't racist? Liam Neeson himself was saying that he was being racist. That was the point of his story. This does not make Liam Neeson racist, he's just telling a story about a time that he had a racist impulse. I thought that was kind of what Trevor Noah was saying and I agree. I don't think Neeson's approach to it was the smartest PR wise, but I'm not down with this condemnation of him. I felt like he was addressing racism, relating an example of a way racism can form in someone's mind. He just didn't go about it in the best way. You really can't say that if the attacker had been "a ginger" that Neeson would have had the same reaction. Because that's not what happened so it would only be speculation. Liam Neeson himself said that he made it a point to ask her what color the attacker was. So he was thinking about race from the get go. He admits this was wrong. He professes that he's ashamed of it and I believe him.

[@AmbyJeans]

Ilikecommenting These are his actual words: He said: "God forbid you've ever had a member of your family hurt under criminal conditions. I'll tell you a story. This is true." Neeson said the alleged rape took place a long time ago and he found out about it when he came back from a trip abroad. The actor went on to use racially offensive language about the attacker. He said: "She handled the situation of the rape in the most extraordinary way. "But my immediate reaction was... I asked, did she know who it was? No. What colour were they? She said it was a black person. "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 [uses air quotes with fingers] 'black bastard' would come out a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him." He did express remorse. “It was horrible, horrible, when I think back, that I did that,” Neeson said to Michallon. “And I’ve never admitted that, and I’m saying it to a journalist. God forbid. It’s awful. But I did learn a lesson from it, when I eventually thought, ‘What the f--k are you doing,’ you know?” “There were some nights I went out deliberately into black areas in the city looking to be set upon so that I could unleash physical violence,” Neeson said. “[My response] shocked me and it hurt me. I did seek help. I went to a priest, I aired my confession, I was reared a Catholic. I had two very, very good friends that I talked to. And believe it or not, power-walking helped me. Two hours every day, to get rid of this. I’m not racist. This was nearly 40 years ago.”

[@AmbyJeans]

Peder Hansen That seems to be in short supply nowadays

[@fallendevonish1869]

I for one can definitely sympathise with Liam Neeson. When Steve Irwin was killed by that stingray I was distraught, in a dark place, I wanted revenge... I would swim for hours with a cosh in my trunks, just hoping one of those stingray bastards would have a go at me as I deep dived. So that I could... kill it. I never thought I’d admit this on a KZbin comment but here we are.

[@NOPE096]

Admission is great

[@melissab9639]

I. Love. You

[@_Tree_of_Life_]

Oh my god. You're bringing Steve into this?! Too soon, man... Too soon....

[@umair1955]

You admitted to being a sting ray-cist

[@jethrotool4828]

Umair Ansari haha good one

[@Corsuwey]

Anyone who says that they have NEVER had a racist thought is a liar... But acting upon such thoughts is ever-so-much worse.

[@alexgulino335]

Yeah, but if walking around was the only action that you needed to take everyone else might have done it as well. He didn't actually DO anything wrong whatsoever. Did nothing illegal and nothing that could have been proven. It was 100% something absolutely wrong that he thought and walked around thinking. He didn't pick a random black person which implies he did have some sort requirement other than "black person". Some people have racist thoughts for no reason at all...he was typecasting his vengeance. People do it all the time. Shoot up cops for the police brutality happening. Beat muslims for the horrible things others have done. Mock or beat christians for the harm the church has caused or covered up over the years etc... because they are black doesn't even mean it was racist in that context specifically. In the "vengeance" category it actually suits a "type" generalization more than a racist one...notice he wanted it to be someone who started something with him. The type of person to start a fight or try to beat up a random guy is different than a random black person and he equates that type with the type who would rape someone whether wrong or not. It was horribly wrong but not just for the reasons you're thinking. What he did is why terrible violence is still being perpetrated in the middle east and around the world based on the past indiscretions of a particular group against another. It's what feuds are based on and they make just as much sense as his story but because his feud was with a 'black person who started something with him' it was labelled as just racist because of the times but it was much more closely related to the shooter who killed the police than the police who kill black people.

[@stoormtrooper22]

Every BLM activist ever

[@anananwar]

what is a racist thought?

[@floatingrabbit3556]

@GoldenState Everyone's a racist. Anyone who denies that is a nincompoop.

[@jacquedenise86]

I agree

[@evaatan]

"clearly your particular set of skills doesnt include shutting the f*ck up" LOL this man , someone get this mans an oscar

[@Eurisko229]

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@j.bennett4153]

The way an individual expresses his or her self is as nuanced and unique as the individual. It seems as though Liam Neeson's intent was to express a dark thought for which he felt shame. His unique cultural and linguistic upbringing shapes and constrains his ability to express complex ideas, as it does with each of us. We are embarking on a time when people are at least attempting to articulate such complex human emotions and thoughts and interactions. We should lift all those up who speak the truth, even if it isn't a truth with which we agree.

[@nfzeta128]

I agree, if less people were pushed toward one side because communication was seen as impossible or shut down then you're only creating more divides and therefore, problems.

[@reagan513]

@Curia Regis Hey bud, at least Trump gets a break tonight. Why don't Trevor ever have star African American actors, like Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Charlie Pride, etc instead of the black Grand dragon Spike Lee? Liam Nelson just got pissed at the time, he is N. Irish, we do not take anything in that matter lightly, they need to be death with no matter what race. White guilt is for the weak.

[@linguinivonbreadstick3289]

Curia Regis what's it like to live in an alternate reality? I bet it's fun, right? Being the hero of your own fantasies and despising all those 'brainwashed NPCs' who've clearly been programmed by fake news and lying liberal media. Does someone need a hug? 😚

[@TheMoonShining]

He's always so honest, level-headed, compassionate and insightful in his approach to polarizing and sensationalized topics like this. (This is probably weird for a 25 year old single woman to say, but he really is the son I would be proud and honored to raise some day.)

[@ambidextrous4383]

23 and engaged, and I feel the same lol

[@clownclownolulu7897]

That’s a beautiful thing to say!

[@Emma-ge2bd]

And/ or husband lolz

[@Seekerofknowledges]

Hi Gece, we can make that a common goal. From France with love.

[@kevinthomas522]

Growing up in South Africa apartheid can humanize you in the most humbling manner and help you create a man in his thought provoking and compassionate form. I admire all that he is.

[@alim.587]

This was exactly my reaction to this story. I appreciate that Trevor didn't feed into the "outrage" and saw it wfor exactly what it was.

[@Soundslikefreedom58]

Trevor has a logical mind and a healing voice. I'm in deep agreement with this assessment!

[@liamneeson1281]

Thanks dear and nice to meet you 💝

[@deenam6171]

Respect to Liam for facing his thoughts, most of us don't.

[@jeandada3654]

Most us don't have those thoughts.

[@stuff6181]

@@jeandada3654 most of us do, or did in the heat of the moment, and can't/won't remember.

[@stirlingramsay]

Most of us aren't racist.

[@jeandada3654]

@@stuff6181 No, really, most of us don't think that cos one individual who had certain characteristics, black, or green eyed, or bald headed, or whatever, that because of that one attack on a friend of ours that everyone with a similar physical attribute is somehow linked or guilty or responsible, or I don t know, has something to do with it. No, one person did it, and noone else has anything to do with it.

[@freakingtv2343]

This man is so freaking good with words. He can explain in my mind my most complex thoughts.

[@coopaloopmex]

Trevor Noah for president! Ah shit, South African. 28th Amendment: Trevor Noah is eligible for President of USA

[@eduardoarmenta9232]

What's sad is that sometimes the public opinion is more important than common sense..... or even the truth.

[@elmirabrazil9936]

Public opinion is never important esteem is called self-esteem for a reason.

[@fidgetyrock4420]

F'ck the public.. lol always fuk em. sharks dont play in the kids pool anyways

[@nfzeta128]

What's sad is that public opinion isn't equal to common sense. You would think a majority label like public opinion, would mesh well with *common* sense.

[@fidgetyrock4420]

@@nfzeta128 luckily most puppets bend to their master.. And most public is puppets.

[@nfzeta128]

@@fidgetyrock4420 The problem with that thinking is that the public chooses their leader based on their own feelings.

[@CoolPandaTheMovieNerd]

This is why Trevor is awesome.

[@I.K.Rico_]

It is never the repentant sinner that one should fear...he has found himself wrong. It is the self righteous sinnner who is the most to be feared as he must prove himself right. Trevor's generousity of spirit is admirable here as is Liam's honest depiction of racist fear. Learn from both wise men.

[@xeroday3227]

Excellent breakdown, Trevor. Couldn't agree more.

[@princessmjb957]

Agree

[@TheJoeSwanon]

Clearly you’re a particular set of skills does not include shutting the f#ck up 😂 I almost died

[@korisx]

I literally got to this as he said it lol.

[@Nandinandito]

How does he come up with this shit on the spot

[@cbtweety77]

Me too, I nearly peed my pants LOL 😂😂😂

[@seunosewa]

He is also trying to promote his movie or at least to try to undo the damage he did to it.

[@saxking101]

Nando he's a professional comedian. Daily show is just his day job

[@Spliffmaster3000]

Ok, gonna get slated for this, but here goes. I've no love or hate for Neeson, but do share something huge in common with him. I am from Waterford in Ireland. Just around the corner from where Liam spent many summers with his Grandmother. Liam has twenty year on me, but at that time 'Change' and 'Ireland' were not two words that were synonymous. Ireland was a massively insular little country. I remember in the 80's there were two black guys who lived in our city. Alot of people knew them, one funnily enough was called Paddy, and the second's name escapes me at present, but he had dreads. I'm not exagerating here... I mean it... two (obviously to the best of my knowledge). Liam is talking about a time 40 years ago, in Britain. At that time many immigrants/refugees (depending on how you look at it), flooded into England looking for a better life than in the colonies. Very few were welcomed. This is the same era that you would routinely see 'NO BLACKS, NO DOGS, NO IRISH' signs on a plethora of Clubs, Pubs and B&B's. Neeson is talking about a time that many of the people who are commenting on this have no appreciation of. There were social divides that existed today. But the key point that people seem to miss is that the admission at the time was to highlight his process for playing a role. It was a guilty admission of a mature man, of how rage blinded a much younger self into almost commiting an act of hatred that was so abhorrent to him in retrospect that he sought the advise of a Clergy man. He was using an event from his own life to show how useless rage and revenge can be. I'm frankly amazed that people are blowing this so out of proportion.

[@theeggtimertictic1136]

I'm from Ireland too and there was 1 black fella in our small town ... he worked in the local grocery shop ... very helpful lad ... I wonder where he is now.

[@callum9999]

Maybe it's a Catholic thing - do whatever you want but say sorry and all is forgiven? He set out to murder people (MURDER PEOPLE, not say some mean words, MURDER PEOPLE - why are so many of you acting like setting out to kill a human being is just some kind of trivial mistake? What if a black guy actually did approach him on one of those nights?) based on the colour of their skin, but he seems kinda sorry about it so let's all leave him alone!

[@theeggtimertictic1136]

@@callum9999 So what do you think should be done with him?

[@TheGuindo]

@@callum9999 the fact of the matter is that _didn't_ happen, and neeson sought help to change himself so he wouldn't be the kind of person who'd do something like that anymore, and _that's why_ we're able to be forgiving. Since nobody got hurt, just changing his behavior to prevent it from happening again is good enough for an apology to be acceptable. If someone _had_ gotten hurt, then obviously the threshold for forgiveness is much higher.

[@AnonRanGER01]

You're frankly amazed that people are blowing this so out of proportion IN 2019? I'm frankly amazed at THAT.

[@natashacoda4354]

I’m a nurse. In order to provide care without prejudice, we are taught a simple lesson in nursing school: EVERYONE has preconceived notions about a particular race and/or religion. The key in giving good care, however, is not by denying them. Instead, it’s by acknowledging to ourselves privately that we have them and give the best care we can to the person in spite of them. I think it’s a lesson everyone should learn-acknowledge your prejudices but be open minded enough to respect others. Although he won't publicly admit it, I think that's what Neeson was doing.

[@kingkong-ni4ho]

OMG. You remembered that from nursing school too? That was nursing fundamentals.

[@rogeroropeza516]

You had to be taught that? wow..

[@ssundeepoopsalot1391]

It would be a better world if people could openly share where and when they learned how to be a better human without open criticism from the public. We are taught to prejudge and ...we can unlearn it as well to do our jobs to fairly work with the public, especially educating and saving lives. I'm sorry anyone criticises your post. It was very kind and informative. Thank you

[@Collegeave12]

@@rogeroropeza516 yes she had to be taught that in nursing school..because in reality there are people who are racist and are in the nursing field..so yes being taught that was a great thing....do u wanna live in a delusional world, where we think nobody is a racist...?

[@sidney4022]

We must not be trapped by prejudice and instead seek to look beyond it.

[@lisahuber9329]

If you want people to change you can't keep judging them for who they were before

[@lucaslayton3974]

Nobody gives a fuck about him changing. We just want him to go live under a rock and never bother us again.

[@Jehty_]

@@lucaslayton3974 so that everyone who has similar thoughts doesn't call for help. Really clever. Liam Neeson said that he asked a priest for help. With your stupid comment you ensure that in the future people won't seek for help and instead try to deal with it on their own and probably fail.

[@deeughfolte5770]

This virtuous and ideal sentiment just so happens to almost always evaporate into thin air when there's a black person that has been brutally manhandled or shot, and some reporter digs up unrelated unflattering photographs or video. Then only is the past ever relevant, and some actually go as far as justifying present day events with past unrelated acts, insisting they deserve eternal and fatal punishment. Always interesting watching how people react to these incidents and the ever convenient, conditional wavering sense of nuance, empathy or compassion. Also a lot of people that are incredibly certain of what his mind might have been going through in the wake of what he discovered. So many are weirdly completely certain he categorically did not have any racist sentiments whatsoever, even though he expressed them explicitly. Seems these incidents are far more than what meets the eye.

[@trishahernz7809]

There should be a limit though. Talk is cheap, and it's so easy to say you're sorry and never mean it. I'm giving Liam Neeson a pass, but still keep remembering he did that once.

[@uchep3616]

@Lisa Huber Excellent! I agree 100%. Events and living life shapes people perspective regularly. Are we the same people we were 5, 3 or even 1 year ago?

[@deepwawa8525]

trevor flexing with the facts is amazing

[@rogue0192]

It's incredible how naturally funny he is in unplanned conversation

[@moffit1]

Doubt it was unplanned he would be stuttering all the time to think of the subject if caught off cuff

[@ruthfeseha5526]

I was thinking the same thing! I think he’s actually funnier unscripted. Blows my mind he’s so insightful and funny at the same time candidly

[@lotrnerd5037]

We need to be able to change as humans. It is what makes us us.

[@lotrnerd5037]

Thomas everyone is capable of making mistakes. Every one changes, why narrow it to any such group? We are human. End of story.

[@lotrnerd5037]

Thomas and yet I am the open minded one between the both of us. I understand where you are coming from. Everyone has implicit biases. I definitely have mine. Difference is I want everyone(including me) to work towards change, not just one group.

[@peaveyst7]

@Thomas oh really? the reason to change is based on my skincolor? why?

[@lotrnerd5037]

L. Fivaz that behaviour is not unique to one race. Ethnocentric ideas are shared by all.

[@lotrnerd5037]

Thomas you need to look up what ethnocentrism is, and then tell me no other group of people displays that behaviour trend. All people do it.

[@hanaomer4940]

I like the idea of not condemning people for past mistakes if they come forward about it and show shame over it. People who get called out on their past and only then apologize always felt fake to me.

[@lucaslayton3974]

Right, and people using racist anecdotes to sell movie tickets are super real? Use your brain.

[@hanaomer4940]

@@lucaslayton3974 people trying to sell anything aren't going to be super real but _surprisingly_ that wasn't what I was talking about so feel free to eff off. 🤗

[@helenosa5621]

I get that! I often feel uneasy about those apologies too. But I also wonder wether or not they may have felt bad about it, already, but didn't dare to bring it up themselves. Because obviously they would be judged and of course there still is a chance it might never get out. Sadly there usually is no way to know.

[@Anna-hy5ff]

Trevor answers these questions on the spot so well, with so much heart, empathy, and wisdom.

[@anonymous111delta4]

scary truth : alot of people have done what Liam Nelson did ...what puts him above all those other people is his bravery to admit it and fix it

[@tuntejaable]

Well this why we need to do more to tackle racism

[@jstnxprsn]

Brilliantly stated and explained Trevor. I like more every time I watch you.

[@FragginCap]

Here’s the thing. You can’t hear the ENTIRE interview and not see it as just a very honest human moment. His point was that you can fall into racism very easily. It can be there, not hidden, but more disregarded and then one simple straw too many and you’re just falling into it. Because the reality is racism is taught. Not by your parents when you’re a kid. But by the world. By members of EVERY race chipping away at your tolerance over and over by choosing to be a cliche instead of a decent human being. And that shit adds up and you see one of two things happen. They slowly become more racist and worse more comfortable being racist. Or they go from zero to full rage. I think Liam did the second one. The truth is also that’s not racism. Calling it racism is down playing it. That’s just rage. And hate. I say it’s rage because rage doesn’t worry too much about the flavor of the hate, it just wants to hate. If the rapist was any other race, cliche, or w/e the result would have been the same. It’s good that Liam survived his temporary madness. Many men don’t. Whether it’s going after that white guy who looks like the guy your girl cheated on, the Latino not speaking English, when the rage ends they find themselves in jail, or divorced, or hitting their kids. Prisons are full of men who let the rage make them mad. Liam gets to regret as a famous millionaire, some men regret in a 3 by 6 cell

[@FooeyMcgooey]

Thank you

[@JoshSweetvale]

Ah, but for whites to think in a nuanced manner about racism is clearly a sign that they've got genocidal intent.

[@tutuadefolalu596]

I'm black and I just wanted to say I agree with what you're saying and am thankful that Trevor seems to gt it as well. I also have the unfortunate but helpful experience of going through almost the exact same thing as what Liam Neeson described. My father was killed in what was believed to be a gang initiation. He was just the unfortunate victim chosen for whatever ritual of violence they felt like perpetrating. After that I was bitter, angry, that rage Liam described but even more intense. Anyone who's lost someone to violence knows what I'm talking about. It consumes you, eats away at you whether waking or sleeping. And you want to "lash out" at times. For me I had made a decision at one point to go into law enforcement, with the idea of fighting against the very forces that had taken my father from me. But in my case I had the wrong makeup for it, bitterness, wanting to lash out. I got as far as the initial information meeting where they give you the materials for a background check. Throughout that whole time my church's pastor was very involved. We'd have long talks, times of prayer, etc. And he was always against the idea of me going for that job. Because I think he knew what I also knew. A gang member took my dad away. So in my eyes all gang members were terrible people, they were all guilty. If a situation occurred involving one, God only know what I would've done. But if there was an excuse to defend myself. If they "started something" (as Neeson phrased it), I would've probably killed them. Considering the controversies and tragedies surrounding police shootings in this country, the fact that I very well could've been one of those people, it fills me with shame, deep shame and disgust about how I was back then. I was also lucky enough to have help, a pastor that refused to leave me alone to my thoughts and whims. So I never sent the materials in. I found a different line of work. I had help, changed the way I thought and saw the world, processed my grief in a constructive, healthy way. I thank God for that every day. And I think that's what Neeson was trying to say (though, like Trevor, he really should've done it on Oprah instead of a radio spot for a freaking movie). That we have these situations in our lives that can draw out that latent racism/prejudice from the culture we grow up/live in, and mix it with rage. Rage that can't be well described in words. Rage that may not care too deeply about who the target is (whether it's the offender, someone like the offender, or just someone with the same skin color). For me, they just had to be a "gang member" and that would've been good enough. I think there are many people who've had those kind of horrible moments. Hopefully most of us have learned from them, have changed and become better people. I think this is a long overdue conversation for people to have, especially in this country. Just, you know, try it on Oprah next time lol.

[@sarahinsf]

​@@tutuadefolalu596 Thank you so much for sharing your story and insights. My condolences on the violent loss of your father.

[@ojisankusai]

@@tutuadefolalu596 This gives the perfect amount of perspective from a different angle than Neesan's. Thanks for offering your story, and I'm sure you're tired of hearing it but I'm still very sorry for your loss in such a way. More people need to see stories like yours to simply understand that any one of us, regardless of melanin content, can fall into the intoxication of rage and hate.

[@danieladonis23]

"There is no value In atonement”, was probably one of the realest things i've hear lately, so well put. Can be applied to analyse most of the things that happened, there's such a lack of it.

[@shayjones5099]

If there is no value in atonement, then there is no change.

[@bruceguillory2453]

I respect that man for coming out and realizing how wrong it was & admitting his truths. He was courageous for it nobody’s perfect so let’s not get it twisted.

[@kayewilde8871]

Hi. I was a racist too and I am very very very ashamed of it. I didn't actually said harsh words to people of darker color but I have preferred light colored skin that's why I always use whitening products and all and in movies I preferred watching movies with white people in it. Recently, I discovered Trevor Noah while browsing through my fb page, I followed him there to youtube and I was given a fresh, different perspective. I was informed of how people of color suffered before and how they are suffering now. I am deeply ashamed of myself thinking the way I think before. And I will move forward apologetically and with an open mind.

[@luxolontamo4440]

I like your honesty man.

[@ohhailsnow7812]

It's obvious he was only looking at the color of a man to get revenge. Had he thought it through, he should've been looking for any man that refused to stop his advances on a woman who kept indicating she was not interested. That would be the guy to step up to. I'm not bashing him since he is pointing something out that so many people don't talk about when someone's been attacked. Also I think he felt extremely powerless since he wanted a fight with just any black guy.

[@HMSkillBuilders]

the perpetrator probably wasn't even black...its just that same old go to that ww like to pull sadly.

[@fidgetyrock4420]

sexual hatred contains no thought, its pure evil. doesnt matter if its jealousy or rape hate, or whatever race.. if someone commits a sexual crime towards you or your closest, it is 100 years (life time of karma) of revenge, Im very surprised liam actually got over it. Forexampel the singer in linkin park, he got depression from a pedo who molested him as a teen.. and 35 years later extremely successfull (it wasnt enough to be the best rock star on the planet) he killed himself. it speaks volumes. I completely understand liam.. and of course its a wrong thought. but doesnt matter..

[@nfzeta128]

@@nobodyaskedyou64 The problem with that is that a character trait is a lot harder to 'spot' than a physical trait. If it was a white guy and therefore the group would be too wide to become focused target then it would have been 'a short man', 'a tall man', 'a fat man', 'an ugly man', 'a handsome man', 'a blond man'. Otherwise it could have been age.

[@MangaManiac]

True, though the thing was. Back in the days he was talking about, there weren't a lot of black people in Ireland. So he likely in his rage and turmoil thought of his angle of aproach like that. Which as you said, is likely due to because he felt so powerless. Was that the right move? Hell no. But I'm glad that he at least admits that it was a terrible thought. Extreme anger and frustration can make people pretty irrational. I'm also glad that he couldn't get his hands on someone, because he likely would've done something very stupid.

[@jdoggydog196]

OH Hail Snow well yes, but look at it through his perspective, Your close friend has just been raped. They don’t know who it was, all they know is that it was a black guy. Now, you’d probably feel pretty pissed off on behalf of your friend who’s just been raped, and revenge isn’t right but it’s quite likely you’d want revenge. Now if you want to get the guy, how are you going to do that? Are you going to walk the streets with a weapon and walk up to each black guy you see and say,”would you rape someone?”, I don’t expect that you would, i think it’s far more likely that the kind of guy to rape people would also be more confrontational. So walking in areas where there are many black people hoping that one picks a fight with you would likely be the outcome that you come up with. I’m not saying it’s right that he did this(nor is Liam) but in the 70’s in Ireland where the media only portrays black people in negative ways you’d do something pretty similar. It’s very easy for us to say with a modern perspective that “i wouldn’t do that I’d stand up against inequality for all” but the reality is that 99.9% of us would see it as part of everyday life and not think about it. That’s the harsh truth. And i think if Liam neeson has said yeh I wish I’d found someone to kill, he would definitely be a bad person who hasn’t grown or changed over time. But that isn’t what he said, he said he’s ashamed and horrified. That’s the difference

[@picketfence2028]

It's true. Trevor would be the best person to interview Liam, because he would be objective, but still personally understand the gravity of the subject.

[@OhNoNotFrank]

I was in the military when I was told my girlfriend at the time had been raped by some junkies. I told my commander I would be gone for a few days, AWOL or not and he could tell that arguing with me there and then would not be fruitful. I traveled home taking all the back roads I could find so noone would know I was there. I broke of a solid leg of a table, and went out to where the junkies gathered and waited behind a bush. The first ones to arrive left in seperate ambulances with broken legs, arms, collarbones and concussion, and I made damn sure they all knew who I was after having completely trashed their car. *Luckily* I had targeted the right ones, but at the time I wasn't sure and didn't care. Ask anyone who knows me, and they will swear I couldn't hurt a fly. That might be why it took several years for me to accept that in certain circumstances hate can be overwhelming.

[@tobimakkura]

I'm glad he values atonement, not enough people do these days.

[@stiimuli]

I honestly don't see Liam's explanation of that incident as being racist at all but rather one of *tribalism* and irrational revenge. He wasn't expressing any general hatred towards black people for being black. His reaction was towards whatever tribe had wronged his friend no matter what race it was. Of course this tribalism is itself a serious problem (one that he recognized as being a problem) but it wasn't racism. We really need to be careful with these rampant accusations. When we get it wrong we simply make things worse for *all* of us.

[@stiimuli]

@@svenzverg7321 Would have been difficult to 'posted' this yesterday considering I only watched this video 5 hours ago. Apparently you've confused me with some other random stranger you were insulting. Great way to start a conversation. Regardless, the very definition of racism is hating someone because of their race...which Liam clearly was not doing. His expressed desire for revenge was motivated by the harm caused to his friend by a member of a tribe that wasn't his own. Not by the attributes or existence of a specific race. As he later explained, whatever race the perpetrator had belonged to would have been the target. Again, the problem in this instance is one of *tribalism* and not racism. Furthermore, if you listen to the full recording, the conversation itself was about revenge and *not* any perceived merits or detriments of any particular race. If you honestly believe no regard should be given to motives then how do you ever expect to successfully address and correct social problems?

[@mariaquiet6211]

"Tribalism" that falls along racial lines is "racism" you pretentious schmuck. Thanks for writing a giant excuse for every lynching from here on in. Feeling enlightened? Every racist has an excuse. You've just accepted all of them.

[@GAndreC]

You do realize that if you replace black with unionist or someone who desired Irish independence no one would be making a fuss. Not to mention the comment seems to come from that vein and if anything deserves people to look into the time of Troubles when assault arson attacks and even actions against the opposite gender were seen as acceptable by more than a single young man. Ireland does not have the same race dynamic or history as Sa or the US so this is more likely an attack against perceived wrong think than a race thing

[@TakeKareMusic]

stiimuli it’s racism, just admit it

[@skhuskhu9644]

No dude. It was racist. He admitted it and probably repented BUT it was still racist

[@TriploGoofus]

Jon Stewart would be so proud of the capacity for nuance Trevor is showing here... actually so am I... well done my man!

[@Pecisk]

He has chosen wisely.

[@Definightly]

Trevor is an American Treasure. I have no idea why he would want to live here among us, having not lived anywhere else (the grass is always greener🤷🏻‍♀️), but we are SO LUCKY to have him and be able to LOVE HIM. Genuinely. You are so so needed and appreciated my friend. Thank you.

[@Prolegomena1781]

I'm positive there isn't any adult human being, of ANY color, that never had a racist thought. What is important though is the be self-aware enough to recognize, and not act upon them in an unjust manner.

[@JoshSweetvale]

I haven't! Technically!

[@thisguy976]

@@JoshSweetvale you have, the issue is you're also a liar.

[@JoshSweetvale]

@@thisguy976 No, I was just raised right. The original post specified adult. I've also been less than equitable with regards to religious groups, but that ain't racism.

[@SDL-xu7em]

@@JoshSweetvale well you may not be racist but you've just discriminated against people with the misfortune of not being raised/taught as well and that's even more idiotic and completely lacking in self awareness as in how lucky you can consider yourself to be "raised right". Dosnt make you any smarter as you clearly have no humility or understanding of your own words! You've practically admitted that you know what you've been taught so have Technically said you could have been a racist if you were raised by one! Smart cookie!

[@JoshSweetvale]

@@SDL-xu7em I most certainly could have been a horrible person. My father and grandma both are... very bigoted. But I think the idea that 'everyone is racist' is defeatist. No. Some people were not ever taught to hate or fear people who had different colour palettes and features. Quite the opposite. I'm amused you get angry because I'm not gonna sit and sulk and pretend like I sinned when I didn't.

[@LQOTW]

Trevor, you are brilliant, wise, and beautiful! The world is very lucky to have you.

[@malikholmes5045]

"We gone bubba gump yo ass" lmmfao😂🤣😭 Trevor is so funny

[@IAmSuzyQ]

I used to think (inappropriate thought), or one time I said (inappropriate statement), or one time I did (inappropriate action)...and now, looking back, I'm disgusted by my ignorance, I can't believe I thought such a thing, how could I have been so wrong? Thankfully, through the years as I have met people, gone places, and experienced things, my view of the world has completely changed and I just want people to know that you can change too. You don't have to be the person you were yesterday or 50 years ago. Change is real. Growth is real. Acceptance is real. Knowledge, experience and kindness can change a life. It's ok to have been wrong in the past, just work to be right, now. We have to be able to be honest with people, we have to know that we won't forever be judged on our past. If not, what's the point? How can we help each other grow and learn if we don't first admit what it is we want to change about ourselves? To know it's possible we need someone to say, "I used to feel that way too and I have changed, and that change has made all the difference!" We can't make honesty damning. Truth can't always kill. None of us are the person we were this morning. Change has occurred. None of us are who we were last year. Change has occurred. And we damn sure aren't the person we were in the midst of a trauma, when we felt pain, or when we were at our lowest! How can we help others if we don't share our experiences? Should we speak in the abstract? Third person? Anonymous sources of events? "A human being thought negative things about another human who was different from the first, in one or more ways." Of course not! Humans relate to one another through specific common traits, events, thoughts, actions, experiences... Liam was wrong. He knows he was wrong. He shared those thoughts and because of that, someone, somewhere stopped beating themselves up over past mistakes, someone put a stick down and didn't go looking for trouble, and someone didn't kill or get killed. Don't make honesty and openness a thing of the past because we're in fear of a past event ruining our future. You know who doesn't embrace tolerance, acceptance, and change.... racists, bigots, misogynists, and those who are homophobic. If we judge another person wholly on their past, how are we any different?

[@Dimps80sBaby]

Truer words have never been spoken!! Hate begets more hate, it's a saying as old as time, yet many still don't understand the meaning...

[@IAmSuzyQ]

@@Dimps80sBaby Thanks so much! ❤️

[@gicking3898]

I'm always taken aback by how thoughtful Trevor is. And when I'm not listening to his commentary, I'm impressed with his humbleness.

[@lenatisdale]

Trevor Noah is so amazing. I love how he engages people and how he addresses these really tough issues in an accessible and humorous way.

[@jacksonjames2712]

Just when i’m ready to unsubscribe you pull me right back in with the best commentary on this controversy I’ve heard. The best part being that it’s your genuine unfiltered unedited and unscripted comments. Love you Trevor.

[@leenae5937]

So why were u ready to unsubscribe if u love him...

[@jacksonjames2712]

Leena Elyssa as a stand up comedian i respect Trevor as one of my hero’s and as worthy as anyone to take up the mantle of the daily show from Jon Stewart. The deftness of his political commentary on South African politics alone should solidify him as one of the great stand ups of our time. But as an aggressive moderate i fear the ever growing political divide between the right and the left, and only find respite in the daily show when Trevor is allowed to speak candidly between the scenes and cover the nuance of tough issues as they should be.

[@leenae5937]

Jackson James alright thts respectable then

[@jacksonjames2712]

Leena Elyssa thank you for saying that. I wish you nothing but love and peace and joy for the rest of your days. 😊

[@leenae5937]

@@jacksonjames2712 you too jackson

[@arx754]

I appreciate Noah taking this on. I'm an older lib Dem, (white and a woman), and my take on what Neeson said is exactly what Noah's is. When Neeson FIRST told this story, he IMMEDIATELY said that, after he settled down, he was immediately shocked at his thinking and totally ashamed, to the point that he sought professional help in order to understand how he could have reacted the way he did. If only MORE of us, black and white, could admit how much we have been brainwashed to think in racist terms, even though most of us (I hope) don't act them out. Many years ago, I read that it's impossible to have been raised in the US (which, I know, Neeson was not) and NOT have racist thoughts. I know I do even though I'm a very liberal Dem. These thoughts "flicker" through my brain, and then I "catch" myself, and thankfully, recognize the error of my thinking, my brainwashing. Thankfully, "thoughts" are not "actions". Every person raised in this country thinks in terms of "race". We've been raised that way. The thing to do is RECOGNIZE, IMMEDIATELY, that your thoughts are "old ideas" that your brain remembers from the time you were a child, so they readily surface. And, btw, I'll bring up another example of "racism" How many of us (I'm 65, btw) were raised on those old "spaghetti" westerns where EVERY depiction of latinos/hispanics was of some guy, wearing a sombrero, sitting on a store or home porch, speaking broken English? Mexicans, in particular, were depicted as lazy and stupid. And, a Mexican speaking broken English was depicted as "not very smart". THAT is the only way, throughout my childhood, that I ever saw Mexicans depicted. NOW, compare that to someone who is French, for instance, and how we feel about someone French speaking broken English. We think it's "charming'. We think of anyone from Western Europe, who speaks broken English, as "charming", and yet "broken English" from someone who is from any other country is derided , mocked, and we immediately think they're not very bright. Just suggesting that we ALL examine our prejudices. We ALL have them, but if you want to be honest with yourself, at least, you should examine them and realize how ridiculous they are.

[@lkhjsdfg]

That was perfectly put. We shouldn’t shame people for sharing past flaws especially after they’ve conquered them. That story may have helped someone decide to overcome their current similar situation.

[@jdlulu9713]

It feels good to hear some proper analysis of that statement, the moral of his story was indeed that bling anger can lead to blinded hate, and racism.

[@Karamel0719]

I love how articulate, intelligent, self-aware, and introspective this young brother is!!! Maaannnn, wish I were 20 years younger! 🤣🤣🤣😍

[@babybirdhome]

This is what maturity looks like, and we desperately need a lot more of it in this world today. It’s been so devalued we don’t even realize we’ve lost it.

[@eleanormason2647]

I hate how the headlines ignore all the context, and love that he's got a balanced view of it. Because he didn't want to randomly go and kill a black dude, he was hurting for his friend who'd just been raped, and those thoughts were a office product of that. And he's not saying that it was a good set of thoughts to have, he was just admitting it and saying that he sought help. People love a good knee jerk reaction without actually going back to the original interview and hearing what was said and hearing it on a human level

[@lucarossi8442]

Every day we walk on a thin line, every day we are just one step away from madness.

[@StaK_1980]

Surprisingly level headed and really intelligent answer

[@thulinkabane5765]

Surprisingly?

[@StaK_1980]

​@@thulinkabane5765 with all the witch-hunt that is going on on both sides.. yeah, this is refreshing!

[@linatang7037]

They tried it 😒

[@Caramelletje]

It's insane how quickly he is able to translate his thoughts into coherent sentences so eloquently. He always sounds very intelligent to me

[@dywanecox4880]

And I love Liam neeson movies. I always looked at him as a good guy, and you know what. I still don't want to look at him any different. There is good, and bad I'm all of us. We just can't let the bad in us conquer the good in us.

[@ritamcintyre8203]

Good for you.

[@brightestlight9462]

@@ynofkhgyu8668 ...the point is that it WAS bad. we all have bad in us, that was something abhorrent that he wanted to do, which he himself admitted, and can be forgiven. but you can't just say what he did/wanted to do wasn't bad.. unless you're saying that it's not a bad thing that he wanted to commit murder?

[@claireholtak1711]

We all have good and bad...and let's see in the next week who has some shade of racist thought go through his/her head. Let he who is innocent cast the first stone (racism is still not ok even though we all do it, but we all need to do an audit as we go about our day).

[@habibymandanoven2909]

Even Trevor as a black man himself could still give some perspective to what Liam neeson have said.. And why a lot of white journalists like they could get their head around it.. I don’t get it..

[@richardbryant3169]

Trevor is mixed race not black.

[@TriteNight1218]

​@Just-Passing-Through 11 you're an ignorant fool.

[@Rad_Travels]

It's interesting how people didn't focus also on the "KILLING" part of the admission, but only the color!

[@latishadaniels4304]

Lol

[@MapleBull95]

Because people use the word "kill" too easily. It's like when two people are in a fist fight and one yells "I'll fucking kill you" at the other. It's the hysteria and adrenaline talking.

[@SminiC88]

Or that a person got raped... What happened to the rapist?

[@ericwalsh2954]

Liam Neeson is Irish and was a secondary school teacher (ages 13 to 18/19) he quit being a teacher after a older student pulled a knife on him and he broke the students nose

[@IgnavisInFlames]

I was worried when I clicked on the video, but Trevor said exactly what I was thinking. Nowadays though people like to make up their minds about stuff and bandwagon, never thinking for a moment that they could ever be wrong. I think Neeson's admission was powerful because of exactly what Trevor said: if we aren't careful, the same hate can fester in us as well.

[@baldeagle6113]

I respect Trevor a lot he's very funny and he does think everything through logically Even though I'm a conservative I watch him all the time

[@sabrinalancaster]

When Trevor came out of that accent talking bout Tom Hanks I died! I totally get what Trevor is saying.

[@rubberbiscuit99]

As James Baldwin wrote, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."

[@Eurisko229]

Amen

[@smjaiteh]

I’m personally glad Liam Neeson came out with that, though his subsequent responses to it are depressingly unsurprising. What makes me sad is how so many people are afraid to admit that they had racist ideas because society keeps telling them that you can only be racist actively. Racism isn’t a choice; it only happens when the society you live in tells you that it’s okay for you to hate this other group. The more people realize that you don’t have to put on a white hood to be racist, the better we can fix this.

[@eringaughn8082]

I agree, I think we're raised to have racist thoughts that have been built into society. We'd be better off if people could admit they've thought or said racist things and then sought to better themselves. It seems that doing so means that you will always be considered racist though, so why would people be honest about it? Instead people are now more concerned about being called racist than actually being racist.

[@thisisit8840]

I'm black and I still love Liam Neeson. People change guys, and we should take that into consideration

[@sdaniels160]

I'm black too. I enjoy Neeson's film too. However, dude said he was roving the streets looking to kill someone innocent. It's disturbing. I'm sure he's different today. But that's disturbing. Just to repeat. He was trolling the streets looking to kill an innocent person.

[@thisisit8840]

@@sdaniels160 but at least he came out and admited that, there people way worse than him who actually commit the act of murder and are not held accountable. And you want to blame him on a though he had years ago?..come on

[@sdaniels160]

@@thisisit8840 I'm not trying to be the thought police. The problem isn't the thought. It's that he acted on it. He doesn't owe me or anyone else anything. He's a great actor. It's just disturbing. Not everyone who finds this disturbing thinks he's belongs in jail or that he's a horrible person. But the idea that he actually went out looking to hurt someone and possibly kill someone is disturbing. Own that part of it. Yeah. Let's move on with our lives, but admit that it should be disturbing.

[@cobrastrichzero]

@@sdaniels160 I think the important part isn't what is says about Liam. The important part is that what it says about us. these blood feud routines exist in all of us, and that when bad shit happens, and just when we're angriest and most stressed and least able to control our emotions, those blood feud routines get activated. In other words, most of us are probably a particular well-timed tragedy away from being our worst selves

[@jackymitchell6982]

I don't think the issue is that we're not taking it into consideration, but why do we have to forgive him? like what he wants a cookie now because he didn't murder a black person and we were supposed to sit there and be like oh look how great and mature he is now? we can take his shame into consideration and still not feel the need to give him a pass which is what it seems like people are wanting black folks to do.

[@realradiant1r69]

Trevor, your perspective is brilliant and insightful! You are a gift to the human race.

[@ade8182]

Weird things is Liam is speaking about how he was wrong admitting his faults and trying to urge people not to make the same mistakes and actually trying to make a statement. Yet we’re still gonna shit on him

[@Notturnoir]

No, you didn’t listen to Trevor

[@benmavinn1666]

@@Notturnoir He's not talking abt Trevor, but the media which escalated a misconception of Liam's story.