Whoopi Goldberg defends friend Liam Neeson, insists he isn't a 'bigot'

Whoopi Goldberg defended her friend Liam Neeson after critics have called him a "bigot" for his recent statements about finding a "black man to kill" after his friend was raped.

GOLDBERG'S DEFENSE

Goldberg, a longtime friend of the "Taken" star, used "The View" as a platform to defend his friend whom she claims was in a rage after finding out his friend was raped. However, she believes that him saying the statement "finding a black [expletive] to kill" was something he said out of anger, and not something he would actually do.

"People walk around sometimes with rage, that's what happens. Is he a bigot? No. I've known him a pretty long time, I think I would have recognized. I've been around a lot of real bigots. I can say this man is not one."

After realizing that what he said was so dark, he went and got himself some help after being affected by one of his loved ones getting hurt.

"You can't be surprised that somebody whose loved one is attacked is angry and wants to go out and attack. What he did go on to say is that he realized that it was too dark for him, he went and got himself help."

NEESON'S RAGE

Neeson faced some heavy backlash after he admitted during an interview that he once tried to set out to kill an innocent black man. He revealed that after finding out his friend was raped by a black man, he went on a rage to find one to kill to avenge his friend. Adding details about what happened, he said he would walk around the streets with a weapon for an entire week after the incident which happened years ago.

He went on to say that he hoped to take out his anger on another black man who crossed his path. Reminiscing about such a dark time in his life, the Hollywood star said that he is extremely ashamed of his actions.

THE AFTERMATH OF HIS REVELATION

Liam Neeson's remarks sparked nationwide outrage, causing the red carpet premiere of his new movie "Cold Pursuit" to be canceled. While some think him opening up about his anger should be praised, many others think that he should be condemned.

The actor went on to do a second interview, this time on "Good Morning America," to explain that he is not a racist and that adding the race of the rapist did not matter. He said that he would've reacted the same way regardless of the person's color or nationality.

"If she had said an Irish or a Scot or a Brit or a Lithuanian I would - I know I would - have had the same effect. I was trying to show honor, to stand up for my dear friend in this terribly medieval fashion."

With a whole new debate sparked due to his statements, the fate of his new thriller movie "Cold Pursuit" is in jeopardy. While a lot of his fans might continue to see it in theaters, there are also a lot of people calling for its boycott so as not to show support to Liam after his revelation.