Liam Neeson criticised by pro-life activists for appearing in Amnesty pro-choice abortion advert
The advert is accused of being 'creepy', 'disgusting' and 'anti-Catholic'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pro-life activists are urging a boycott on films featuring Liam Neeson after the actor lent his voice to a pro-choice advert calling for abortion to be legalised in Ireland.
Ireland has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world thanks to the eighth amendment of the Irish constitution, enacted in 1983.
This amendment ensures only women whose lives are endangered by being pregnant can legally access an abortion. Victims of rape face up to 14 years in prison for seeking an abortion and terminating a pregnancy in cases of foetal anomalies, incest, or even in cases where the foetus would not survive, is also illegal.
Amnesty has launched a petition calling for the act to be repealed, which has received over 43,000 signatories. Neeson has backed the campaign by voicing a hard-hitting advert
promoting the petition, which was released four days ago.
The advert begins in black and white and moves through a graveyard, before the scenery transforms into blue skies and green pastures. Neeson's voice opens the haunting video with a call to lay "this ghost of paper and ink" to rest.
"A ghost haunts Ireland," he says. "A cruel ghost of the last century. It blindly brings suffering, even death, to the women whose lives it touches.
“Feared by politicians, this is a ghost of paper and ink. A spirit that lives in a constitution that lives in a different time. It is a shadow of the country we hoped we’d left behind. Ireland doesn’t have to be chained to its past.
“It’s time to lay this ghost to rest. Repeal the eighth.”
The advert was branded “creepy”, “disgusting” and “shockingly offensive” by pro-life campaigners and a counter petition calling for its boycott has been launched. It has garnered over 5,000 signatures so far. But a number of people were so angered at Neeson's participation they called for a boycott on the Taken actor's films altogether.
The National Catholic condemend the advert as blatantly “anti-Catholic”, with Matthew Archbold taking particular offence to “voice of Aslan” being used to advocate decriminalising abortion. Dave Andrusko, the editor of National Right to Life News, accused the advert of trying to paint an image of the Catholic Church as "outdated and abandoned by the people".
Neeson has yet to comment on the backlash against the advert.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments