Michelle Rodriguez: 'Widows love scenes proves Liam Neeson isn't racist'

Michelle Rodriguez has jumped to the defence of her Widows co-star Liam Neeson, insisting the way he kissed Viola Davis in the film proves he's no racist.

The actor became a target of critics and activists alike after revealing he turned vigilante in his youth and roamed the streets of Northern Ireland looking for the "black b**tard" who raped his friend in a recent British interview.

Liam has since apologised for offending people with his choice of words, insisting he's not a racist.

The red carpet event before the actor's Cold Pursuit premiere was cancelled earlier this week as the controversy raged and experts predicted his remarks to The Independent newspaper would end his career, but now some of his colleagues are coming to his defence.

Rodriguez cited his love scenes with his onscreen wife Davis to prove Liam isn't a man who hates people of colour.

“It’s all f**king bulls**t,” the actress told Vanity Fair. "Liam Neeson is not a racist. Dude, have you watched Widows? His tongue was so far down Viola Davis’s throat... You can’t call him a racist ever.

"Racists don’t make out with the race that they hate, especially in the way he does with his tongue - so deep down her throat. I don’t care how good of an actor you are. It’s all bulls**t. Ignore it. He’s not a racist. He’s a loving man. It’s all lies."

His pal Whoopi Goldberg has also taken his side, defending him during a segment on her talk show The View: "People walk around sometimes with rage, that’s what happens. Is he a bigot? No," she said. "I’ve known him a pretty long time, I think I would have recognised, I’ve been around a lot of real bigots. I can say this man is not one.

"You can’t be surprised that somebody whose loved one is attacked is angry and wants to go out and attack."