Liam Neeson Hates Conor McGregor, Here’s Why
Liam Neeson had harsh words for fellow Irishman Conor McGregor
Liam Neeson has some harsh words for Irish mixed martial artist, Conor McGregor. Speaking to Men’s Health, the Star Wars actor referred to the former Ultimate Fighting Champion as a “little leprechaun” who gives Ireland a bad name. “I know he’s fit, and I admire him for that. But I can’t take it,” the 70-year-old told the publication.
He also isn’t a fan of UFC as a sport saying he can’t stand it. “To me, it’s like a bar fight,” Liam Neeson explained, about the sport which made Conor McGregor famous. While he is aware of the months of training involved he still liked the sport to a bar fight. “Why don’t you just grab a beer bottle and hit the other guy over the head? That’s the next stage of the UFC. I hate it,” the Taken alum continued.
Following Liam Neeson’s comments, Conor McGregor posted a response on social media. “Irish proud, always,” the MMA champion wrote, along with an emoji of the Irish flag. While he did not tag or address his fellow countryman directly, the post was clearly meant for the 70-year-old. The comments were largely supportive. But some made it clear that their allegiance was with the Hollywood star.
Liam Neeson’s disdain for Conor McGregor and the violent nature of the sport is a little ironic. The actor’s own violent streak was revealed in 2019, when he told the Independent he once roamed the streets looking for a “Black bastard” to kill after a close friend had been raped. “I’m ashamed to say that, and I did it for maybe a week,” he told the publication.
The actor later apologized on Good Morning America (via NME), insisting his words were not motivated by race. “I’m not racist, this was 40 years ago,” Liam Neeson said. “There was a war going on in the North of Ireland.” He then went on to claim that deep down, everyone is racist. “We all pretend we’re all politically correct. But if you scratch the surface, you discover this racism and bigotry.”
Like Liam Neeson, Conor McGregor also has a violent streak outside the UFC ring. Over the years, the 34-year-old has amassed a disturbing criminal record. It previously consisted of relatively minor traffic infractions. But in 2018 he was accused of assault and rape at a Dublin hotel, in two separate incidents. Although he was arrested, the UFC star was not charged with a crime, HuffPost reports.
Despite being problematic, Liam Neeson and Conor McGregor have movies in the works. The latter will star in a reimagining of the 1980s action movie Road House. Directed by Doug Liman, the Amazon Prime Video project stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a former UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse. But he soon discovers the tropical paradise is far from perfect, Variety reports.
The Star Wars alum’s upcoming projects include In the Land of Saints and Sinners and Retribution. He has also been tapped to star in The Naked Gun reboot. Maybe someday Liam Neeson and Conor McGregor will face off on screen.
