Colin Farrell defends use of the N word by white character in his new movie

Hollywood star Colin Farrell has defended the use of the N-word in his latest crime thriller.

The Irish actor is starring in Steve McQueen’s latest blockbuster, Widows, which follows a group of female criminals as they attempt an audacious heist after their husbands were killed in a failed robbery.

Farrell’s character is the son of a politician who gets tangled up in the widows’ plans.

The film currently holds a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Although the film has received critical acclaim, someone at the Toronto International Film Festival press conference expressed concerns to Farrell about a white character using racist language.

However, Farrell has defended the use of the word, saying it exposes weakness in people who use it in order to appear strong.

He said: “It’s the weakness sometimes of what people who claim to be strong, perceive as weakness, is where the seeds of change lives.

During the scene Farrell’s character Tom Mulligan has a violent argument with his father, Jack, played by Robert Duvall.

Farrell believes that his character comes off only marginally better than Duvall’s as the son barely reacts to the racial slur uttered by the father.

“The majority of, if not all the wrongdoings, in the world take place in silent conversations. So this is a conversation that been going on between him and his father.

“Not to defend him, but God bless Jack Mulligan, because the slightest tilt of his head when his father uses that N-word is about all that man (Tom) can manage at that point.”

McQueen also defended the use of the word saying: “We’re no fools. We have to project reality onscreen, because that’s what art is about, and we have to transform it and reveal it.”

Widows is set for release later this year. Take a look at the trailer below.

Colin Farrell defends use of the N-word by white character in his new movie

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