In July, reports emerged that The Naked Gun costars Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson were dating. Many fans embraced the unexpected couple’s connection as “wholesome,” while others called out the fact that Liam’s 2019 racism controversy was being overlooked. He told the Independent that, “some time ago,” after coming home from overseas to find out a woman close to him had been raped, “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 color 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 ‘Black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could… kill him… It was horrible, horrible, when I think back, that I did that. 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 fuck are you doing,’ you know?”
Shortly after, he issued an apology, which stated, “Over the last several weeks, I have reflected on and spoken to a variety of people who were hurt by my impulsive recounting of a brutal rape of a dear female friend nearly 40 years ago and my unacceptable thoughts and actions at that time in response to this crime. The horror of what happened to my friend ignited irrational thoughts that do not represent the person I am. In trying to explain those feelings today, I missed the point and hurt many people at a time when language is so often weaponized and an entire community of innocent people are targeted in acts of rage. What I failed to realize is that this is not about justifying my anger all those years ago, it is also about the impact my words have today. I was wrong to do what I did. I recognize that, although the comments I made do not reflect, in any way, my true feelings nor me, they were hurtful and divisive. I profoundly apologize.”
Pamela and Liam also faced speculation that they were in a fake PR relationship to promote The Naked Gun. However, while giving a speech at the Deauville American Film Festival, she said, “I do not and will never feed into PR stunts. That would be a death sentence. I’m authentically driven. I’m superstitious when it comes to love. And I’m not comfortable sharing any shred of my romantic life. I know I will fall in love again and again on screen. That is my job. If we do it well, you will feel it, a kind of projection. It is the greatest compliment. So please think positive. And I appreciate your good wishes. There are no silly games being played. I’m sincere.”
Then, in December, she told People, “If you must know, Liam and I were romantically involved for a short while, but only after we finished filming.”
She said that they spent an “intimate week” together at his New York house, where she had her own room. She added, “Our assistants both came; even family stopped by. [We] went to dinner at a tiny French restaurant, where he introduced me as the ‘future Mrs. Neeson.’ … [In his garden] I tended to a rosebush overgrown with mint … I was happy to help, and he appreciated.”
After their “lost week,” they “went [their] separate ways to work on other films.” However, their connection reignited while they were doing press for the movie. Pamela said, “We were having fun. [It felt] a little bit like a Nancy Meyers film. I always was laughing when people thought, ‘Oh, that’s a publicity stunt.’ I’m like, ‘A publicity stunt? This is real. We have real feelings.’ I adore Liam, but we are better friends, in full honesty. He is such a supporter of this new trajectory in my career and kindly tells me he is very proud of me. I’m sure we will always be in each other’s lives.”
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