Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

Colin Farrell gets choked up discussing Los Angeles homelessness: 'I don't get it'

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 7/8/21

Colin Farrell plays ruthless murderer Henry Drax in upcoming AMC+ limited series The North Water, but he was overwhelmed with concern for humanity toward the end of his Jimmy Kimmel Live interview with guest host Wanda Sykes on Wednesday (July 7).

"What a year it's been for everyone," the Irish actor began. "In so many ways, what a just tragic and difficult year of social unrest and essential things happening that have needed to happen and ugliness that we've seen."

Farrell then got choked up before diving into a specific societal ugliness close to his heart:

"The homeless here [in Los Angeles], it's pretty tough to see. I'm tearing up here like an a—hole, excuse me, but it's pretty tough to see. I don't get it. Am I doing anything about it right now? No. I'd like to think about doing something better, but I don't understand how so many people can be on the street. I say that knowing full well how fortunate I am. I have a nice house. I have a very safe existence. But I don't get it."

To Farrell's credit, he has been an ambassador to the Homeless World Cup for at least six years:

Sykes validated Farrell's concerns before pivoting to his plans to return soon to Ireland for the first time in a long time. The Emmy-winning stand-up comedienne mentioned her desire to visit, which led an exchange about their respective children. Sykes said the "only way to punish them" is by taking away iPad time, but the 45-year-old dad of two posited that "the belt" is also OK.

And he did say this to Wanda Sykes, who is always ready with a perfectly timed joke: "Good lord, you're sitting here about to lose it over on the homeless, and then now you're like, 'Yeah, but I'm gonna beat the s—t out of my kids!'"

Watch the full Kimmel interview plus The North Water's trailer below.