Viggo Mortensen accidentally uses the N-word, shocks everyone, apologizes later
Viggo Mortensen is an Oscar-nominated actor with notable movies like 'Eastern Promises' and 'A History of Violence' to his name. Recently in a question and answer session, for the upcoming film 'Green Book', along with co-star and 'Moonlight' actor Mahershala Ali, Viggo used the N-word. Though used in a different context, the utterance still managed to shock the fans. Read all about it here.
The 'Green Book' chronicles the life of pianist Don Shirley, played by Ali, and his white chauffeur and bodyguard, played by Viggo. Set in the 1960s in the deep south, the film explores the friendship between Ali's and Viggo's characters. It releases on November 16.
Viggo, in an attempt to make a point, said that people did not say 'n-----' anymore. He was contextually speaking about the racism that was prevalent at the time the movie is set and how much the word was used back then. However, the utterance of the complete word shocked fans, despite Viggo using it in a situation where he was speaking against racism.
Fans were shocked to hear the n-word and one tweeted that it seemed like the oxygen left the room. Another commented on the awkwardness, where Viggo was ranting about taking power away from the word but his utterance caused an uncomfortable silence and forced a woman in the crowd to react vocally. A fan also expressed confusion on Viggo's point about race relations.
Was at a screening for #GreenBook—the movie is amazing, but at the QA after Viggo Mortensen just dropped the N Word and the oxygen immediately left the room. #movies
— Dick W. Schulz (@DickSchulz) November 8, 2018
Although some fans rushed to Viggo's defense, saying the actor didn't use the word in a hurtful context, he apologized nonetheless. Viggo said, in trying to convey that people in 1960s used the n-word profusely, he had uttered the entire word himself. While acknowledging the hurt caused by hearing the word from a white man, his apologized and assured he wouldn't say it again.
Ali said, "Knowing his intention was to express that removing the n-word from your vocabulary doesn't necessarily disqualify a person as a racist or participating in actions or thoughts that are bigoted, I can accept and embrace his apology".
While Viggo might have been making an intellectual point and speaking against racism, his poignant intentions were overshadowed by the n-word's utterance. Though the word is used casually within the black community, the context should be examined. However, it is completely unacceptable for anyone outside the black community to use the n-word due to the history of oppression, slavery, and discrimination it symbolizes.
