BREAKING NEWS!! Michael "Kramer" Richards shouts racial slurs!!

[ABlairican Pie]

http://entimg.msn.com/i/150/News/Oct06/MichaelRichards_150.jpg

Richards Shouts Racial Slurs at Hecklers
Nov 20, 4:31 PM EST

Video: Richards' racist tirade

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Michael Richards stunned a comedy club audience, shouting racial epithets at people who heckled him during a stand-up routine.

The 57-year-old actor-comedian, best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's eccentric neighbor Kramer on the hit TV show "Seinfeld," was performing at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood Friday night when he went into the verbal rampage.

A video posted on TMZ.com shows that the tirade apparently began after two black audience members started shouting at him that he wasn't funny.

Richards retorted: "Shut up! Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f------ fork up your a--."

He then paced across the stage taunting the men for interrupting his show, peppering his speech with racial slurs and profanities.

"You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now mother------. Throw his a-- out. He's a n-----!" Richards shouts before repeating the racial epithet over and over again.

While there is some chuckling in the audience throughout the outburst, someone can be heard gasping "Oh my God" and various people "ooh" after Richards uses the n-word.

Eventually someone says: "It's not funny. That's why you're a reject, never had no shows, never had no movies. `Seinfeld,' that's it."

Richards performed the next night at the Laugh Factory without incident.

Calls to Richards' representatives were not returned Monday.

He refused to comment on-camera when reached by CNN, but the network reported that he said off-camera he felt sorry for what had happened and had made amends.

Seinfeld issued a statement saying he was "sick over this."

"I'm sure Michael is also sick over this horrible, horrible mistake. It is so extremely offensive. I feel terrible for all the people who have been hurt," Seinfeld said.

Comic Paul Rodriguez, who was at the club, said he thought Richards' remarks crossed the line.

"Once the word comes out of your mouth and you don't happen to be African-American, then you have a whole lot of explaining," he said.

"Freedom of speech has its limitations and I think Michael Richards found those limitations."

Comedian George Lopez told Los Angeles television station KTLA that he thought Richards' lack of stand-up experience may have been a factor.

"The question is you have an actor who is trying to be a comedian who doesn't know what to do when an audience is disruptive," Lopez said. "He's an actor whose show has been off the air, he shouldn't ever be on a stand-up gig."

ohno:

[Janice]

Very surprising. I never would have thought of Richards as a racist. I think he can kiss what little of his career he had left goodbye.

[Brad Russ]

Wow, I don't even know what to say. To say I'm surprised would be the understatement of the century!! ohno:

[Ireneparalegal]

The other thread has a link to the video.

Those words are the worst thing anyone can say. To say, "String them up..." etc. is horrific and disgusting. Where the hell has Richards been that he thinks such talk would get you laughs? I find no humor in describing what has been done for centuries to human beings solely for the color of their skin.

George Lopez is 200% correct when he says that Richards is an ACTOR. He is not a stand-up comedian. Stand-ups know how to deal with a heckler. Richards is unprofessional as a human being.

I also want to praise the owner of the Laugh Factory for immediately stating to the press that he too was upset at what occurred and that Richards would NOT BE WELCOMED BACK.

[Brad Russ]

I just got back from the dentist, and this incident was actually all the talk over their. My dentist and her assistant were talking about this, and I chimed in, and we talked at length about how disappointed we were in him.

I honestly don't have even the slightest desire to watch the video. Reading about what he said made me sick to my stomache, watching it would probably just make me sad, and furious at the same time. We all say stupid things in anger sometimes, but the things he said were inexcusable!!

You'd think that with Richard's being Jewish and all, he'd know better then to make illusions to horrible things that were done to black people in the past. The history of the Jewish people, and what they went through, is very similar in many ways.

[Dutabi84]

I would have never expected something like this from Richards. Letterman had Seinfeld on last night, and they had Richards on via satelite, and he tried explaining himself and apologized on air. It was pretty awkward to watch.

[Brad Russ]

I would have never expected something like this from Richards. Letterman had Seinfeld on last night, and they had Richards on via satelite, and he tried explaining himself and apologized on air. It was pretty awkward to watch.

Here's a short clip I found of his apology. I would have posted the full apology, but the copyright people at CBS don't want it up on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA78V1Bu3Po

[Ireneparalegal]

I just got back from the dentist, and this incident was actually all the talk over their. My dentist and her assistant were talking about this, and I chimed in, and we talked at length about how disappointed we were in him.

I honestly don't have even the slightest desire to watch the video. Reading about what he said made me sick to my stomache, watching it would probably just make me sad, and furious at the same time. We all say stupid things in anger sometimes, but the things he said were inexcusable!!

You'd think that with Richard's being Jewish and all, he'd know better then to make illusions to horrible things that were done to black people in the past. The history of the Jewish people, and what they went through, is very similar in many ways.
Exactly. Like you said, the history of the Holocaust and the continued hatred towards Jews, Richards should know better. It would not be funny at all to hear someone of any race making fun of or mocking the Holocaust or anything that pertains to hatred of Jews, so why does Richards think it would be funny to say such things that he did?

[TVFactFan]

I would have never expected something like this from Richards. Letterman had Seinfeld on last night, and they had Richards on via satelite, and he tried explaining himself and apologized on air. It was pretty awkward to watch.


I'm still trying to figure out why the crowd was laughing when he apologized

[Seth]

Some people in the audience probably had a little trouble watching the show go into "serious mode" for a few minutes, and thought initially it might have been some sort of act. After part of the way into the interview, notice they do get much quieter.

[Dutabi84]

I'm still trying to figure out why the crowd was laughing when he apologized

Probably because they weren't actually expecting that to happen. I just thought they were going to have one of his stagehands come on and make a joke out of it or something. Letterman's show rarely ever takes a serious turn of events like that.

[TVFactFan]

Probably because they weren't actually expecting that to happen. I just thought they were going to have one of his stagehands come on and make a joke out of it or something. Letterman's show rarely ever takes a serious turn of events like that.



I thought he had something to do with certain people in the audience THINKING of Kramer when he was talking which made them laugh

[Pavan]

Full Letterman interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dufHYw-W6j4

Hurry and watch before CBS removes.

[Brad Russ]

I just found the full video of his apology. For anyone who hasn't seen it, and wants to, here it is:

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2798827

[Scoobiedoo30]

I saw The Inviewer last night on CBS AT 10:35 PM and in the middle of The Inviewer The People was Laughting and Jerry said stoped Laughting it is not Funnie.

[Ireneparalegal]

The people in the audience who laughed probably knew that the damage was done and it was TOO LITTLE TOO LATE! They couldn't say nothing else or they would probably be removed from the studio, so laughing is all they could do. I laugh at times when I hear someone say something that is stupid and pathetic, hard to believe. Like when OJ said he was "100 percent NOT GUILTY"...same thing with Robert Blake who pleaded NOT GUILTY.

[Michael [hXc]]

People will probably be pissed at me for saying this but oh well, I am going to say it anyway.

Why does it seem that white people are the only ones accused of being racist? Not even once do black comedians get reprimanded for making jokes about white people, even if it is in a joking manner. It seems like minority groups can get away with racial slurs much easier than white people can. If you ask me, being part of a minority group is not an excuse for being racist.

All I'm saying was if it was a black person who said those kind of things that Michael Richards said to a white person, none of us would be having this discussion and nobody would think of it as being racist at all. That's wrong. This reminds me alot of when Halle Berry accused someone on a radio program of being racist, when what the man said was not even as bad as some of the things black comedians say about white people.

I'm not saying Richards was right at all, and I think he was very wrong and should apologize. However, I also feel that anyone belonging to a minority group who acts racist to any group of people should owe just as much of an apology to whoever they offend.

[Pavan]

Richards was at the Improv in October, looks like people didn't like his performance there either (no rage there though):
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0724245/board/nest/56136628

[Ireneparalegal]

People will probably be pissed at me for saying this but oh well, I am going to say it anyway.

Why does it seem that white people are the only ones accused of being racist? Not even once do black comedians get reprimanded for making jokes about white people, even if it is in a joking manner. It seems like minority groups can get away with racial slurs much easier than white people can. If you ask me, being part of a minority group is not an excuse for being racist.

All I'm saying was if it was a black person who said those kind of things that Michael Richards said to a white person, none of us would be having this discussion and nobody would think of it as being racist at all. That's wrong. This reminds me alot of when Halle Berry accused someone on a radio program of being racist, when what the man said was not even as bad as some of the things black comedians say about white people.

I'm not saying Richards was right at all, and I think he was very wrong and should apologize. However, I also feel that anyone belonging to a minority group who acts racist to any group of people should owe just as much of an apology to whoever they offend.
I didn't read anyone here calling him a racist. But he is saying words that are considered HATE words. And using a word that is the most degrading word you can call a black person. What did those gentlemen do in that audience that was so horrendous that they deserved to be called such a slur? And to be told how they should be "hung"? What words are white people called that is so degrading and hateful?

[Michael [hXc]]

well the title of this thread is called "BREAKING NEWS!! Michael "Kramer" Richards shouts racial slurs!!"

That implies that he was considered racist for what he said. It's a known fact that black comedians usually add stereotypes and rude jokes about white people to their routines. My point was..nobody would make a fuss if it was a black person on stage and racist words were said to white audience members.

[Brad Russ]

I'm not saying Richards was right at all, and I think he was very wrong and should apologize. However, I also feel that anyone belonging to a minority group who acts racist to any group of people should owe just as much of an apology to whoever they offend.

I totally agree with you there!! Farrakhan and his fanatical followers calling white people devils, or calling the Jewish Faith a gutter Religion, is just as bad as what Richards said, and I would definitely be on someone like Farrakhan, just as much as I am when it's a white person. You're right though. There are double standards at times, and that is unfortunate.

[Ireneparalegal]

well the title of this thread is called "BREAKING NEWS!! Michael "Kramer" Richards shouts racial slurs!!"

That implies that he was considered racist for what he said. It's a known fact that black comedians usually add stereotypes and rude jokes about white people to their routines. My point was..nobody would make a fuss if it was a black person on stage and racist words were said to white audience members.
If a black comedian told a jewish heckler something abt the Holocaust, there would be the same uproar. But when black comedians talk abt "white" people in their routines, it is IN THEIR ROUTINES, something you expect to hear, something that is made in jest. Richards was not doing a "routine", he was not funny, he was being heckled and he couldn't deal with it. Professional comedians know how to deal with a heckler. Richards is not a professional comedian, he reads off of scripts. If one went to see Richard Pryor, you knew what to expect. If one goes to see George Carlin, you know what to expect. I don't expect a "comedian" to lose it and use racial slurs and mention "lynching" or anything else to deal with a heckler.

[Mr. Cranky]

There's not a doubt in my mind that Richards is a racist. With that said, there is a point to be made about double standards. I've seen some black comics who say some of the most outrageous racist statements I've ever heard. Back to Richards, never could stand him myself, even on Seinfeld. He deserves everything he gets now.

[Michael [hXc]]

I agree that Richards might be a racist, but the point I was making is that someone of any race who makes similar comments is racist, no matter whether the attack is from a white person to a black person, a black person to a white person, an asian to either of those, etc. I'm glad some people agreed with me on this, usually nobody does.

Racism is awful and the only way to stop it is for people of all races to realize there's only one race - the human race.

[Brad Russ]

I agree that Richards might be a racist, but the point I was making is that someone of any race who makes similar comments is racist, no matter whether the attack is from a white person to a black person, a black person to a white person, an asian to either of those, etc. I'm glad some people agreed with me on this, usually nobody does.

Racism is awful and the only way to stop it is for people of all races to realize there's only one race - the human race.

Well said!! :thumbsup:

[Michael [hXc]]

Thanks :)

[Ireneparalegal]

Whether he is or he isn't, still doesn't change the fact he said what he said and he was on camera and no matter what the hecklers said, nor does it matter what their race is, Richards was 200 percent wrong for what he said. He was not drunk, he was not on drugs (as far as we know), he was not professional, he was not funny and he couldn't handle the negativity (or the truth) for that matter. Heckling has been around since Vaudeville.

[James"Thunder"Early]

This guy is not only racist, he's crazy. You can't take heckling, so you go off the deep in and start talking about lynching? I can't even comprehend that. He acts odd anyway, the way he rambled on Letterman was very bizarre.

[theshark8777]

I agree that Richards might be a racist, but the point I was making is that someone of any race who makes similar comments is racist, no matter whether the attack is from a white person to a black person, a black person to a white person, an asian to either of those, etc. I'm glad some people agreed with me on this, usually nobody does.

Racism is awful and the only way to stop it is for people of all races to realize there's only one race - the human race.

I agree with you there too.

Kinda reminds me of "hate crimes". Honestly, aren't all crimes hate crimes no matter who they are against? Is there such a thing as a "like" crime? Why is it different if one is one race and one is another. Same with the name calling, if one race says it, its okay. Then if the other does it isn't.

[bandito]

People will probably be pissed at me for saying this but oh well, I am going to say it anyway.

Why does it seem that white people are the only ones accused of being racist? Not even once do black comedians get reprimanded for making jokes about white people, even if it is in a joking manner. It seems like minority groups can get away with racial slurs much easier than white people can. If you ask me, being part of a minority group is not an excuse for being racist.

All I'm saying was if it was a black person who said those kind of things that Michael Richards said to a white person, none of us would be having this discussion and nobody would think of it as being racist at all. That's wrong. This reminds me alot of when Halle Berry accused someone on a radio program of being racist, when what the man said was not even as bad as some of the things black comedians say about white people.

I'm not saying Richards was right at all, and I think he was very wrong and should apologize. However, I also feel that anyone belonging to a minority group who acts racist to any group of people should owe just as much of an apology to whoever they offend.I agree.

[Jenya]

Michael Richards is an idiot! But even if a black person uses the "N" word during their comedy act, that still bothers me.

I was always bothered by Richard Pryor doing this too, and I never found it funny.

Bill Cosby doesn't use it in his stand up acts. There is no excuse for any other person to use it either. It's offensive to everybody, in my opinion.

[eltonfan80]

Michael Richards is an idiot! But even if a black person uses the "N" word during their comedy act, that still bothers me.

I was always bothered by Richard Pryor doing this too, and I never found it funny.

Bill Cosby doesn't use it in his stand up acts. There is no excuse for any other person to use it either. It's offensive to everybody, in my opinion.
i totally agree with you all the way i hate that word

[Stuck In The '70's]

Michael Richards is an idiot! But even if a black person uses the "N" word during their comedy act, that still bothers me.

I was always bothered by Richard Pryor doing this too, and I never found it funny.

Bill Cosby doesn't use it in his stand up acts. There is no excuse for any other person to use it either. It's offensive to everybody, in my opinion.
I agree with you on that.

[Lamont]

well a lot of it is perspective

back in the 1970s i would see pryor or redd foxx in concert and they used the N word a lot--- but back then the context was different and the times were different

when i see young black comics using the N word today--- its just not the same as when pryor used it as the times have changed

Richards---- I think is a funny man, and most likely meant it to be shocking and draw attention, but didnt mean it to cause the mess it did---- we all do dumb things and i think the story is getting wayyyy to much attention

[Brad Russ]

Richards---- I think is a funny man, and most likely meant it to be shocking and draw attention, but didnt mean it to cause the mess it did---- we all do dumb things and i think the story is getting wayyyy to much attention

I respect your opinion, but I totally disagree with you on this one!! The Mel Gibson thing got more attention than this, and he even had an excuse for it, he was drunk. Not only that, but there wasn't even video of the Gibson incident. I finally saw the footage of the Richards incident on Entertainment Tonight, and it was 10 times more shocking than I even imagined. Honestly, when I saw the footage, it reminded me of all the past footage Iv'e seen of Adolph Hitler, and I'm not even exaggerating. It was actually kind of scary to see that kind of anger coming out of a person. I was even a big fan of the guy before this happened, so this is a totally non-biased opinion coming from me. The guy deserves all the negative attention he's receiving as far as I'm concerned.

By the way, this isn't the first time Richards has lost it, and said something totally inappropriate. Two weeks ago, a female comic accidentaly knocked something of his of a table, and Richards went off on her, screaming, and telling her she'd never work in this town again. If this incident was a one time thing, that would be one thing, but apparantely Richards has an extensive past of acting totally innapropriately, and losing control. It's true that we all make mistakes, but at some point we grow up and change. I think it's about time Richards do the same.

[Lamont]

i read where richards also went off on a jewish heckler and called her jewish insults--- and of course he is jewish too

so it seems as if these are NOT views he has personally, but just part of his idea of an act

the Gibson thing got more press-- because of many factors

1. he had made THE PASSION a few years back which had anti-semitic overtones to some

2. Gibsons father is an extreme christian who preaches that jews are evil and should be killed--- so of course people might think that mel agrees

3. gibson had put forth an image of a strong catholic and a solid moral character---- an image that michael richards never put forth

so yes, he got more coverage and i think it was silly then too

do we REALLLLLLLY need to know about how every star feels on every issue? whether an actor likes blacks or jews, or whether he likes kinky sex---- does any of that really affect his work or his ability?

[platinumblondelife]

whether an actor likes blacks or jews, or whether he likes kinky sex---- does any of that really affect his work or his ability?
Are you serious?

[DOPEY85xxx]

:racist: Idiot flushed his Career Kiss A future TV show Goodbye.

[platinumblondelife]

:racist: Idiot flushed his Career Kiss A future TV show Goodbye.
lol. How ironic that he also talked to the person in your emoticon thing to ask for forgiveness, as if he speaks for black people, or his forgiveness would speak for theirs lol. Many are probably asking why he was too busy getting his hair permed to even really speak out about it when it happened...

[Brad Russ]

What makes this whole thing even sadder in my opinion, is the way the guys who Richards displayed his hatred towards responded back to him, calling him a ****ing cracker, and a ****ing white boy, all the while telling Richards how he went over the line for saying what he said. You really don't have a whole hell of alot of credibility when you put someone down for something, and then do the exact same thing back to them. Yes the guys were hurt and embarrassed, but that still doesn't excuse them for reacting towards Richards the exact way he reacted to them. It makes them lose all credibility.

With all that said, I genuinely do feel horrible for every person out there who were deeply hurt and offended by his words, and it really wouldn't bother me a single bit if I never heard from Richard's in the acting world again.

[theshark8777]

What makes this whole thing even sadder in my opinion, is the way the guys who Richards displayed his hatred towards responded back to him, calling him a ****ing cracker, and a ****ing white boy, all the while telling Richards how he went over the line for saying what he said. You really don't have a whole hell of alot of credibility when you put someone down for something, and then do the exact same thing back to them. Yes the guys were hurt and embarrassed, but that still doesn't excuse them for reacting towards Richards the exact way he reacted to them. It makes them lose all credibility.


Couldn't agree with you more. Now they want to sue? Hypocricy at it's finest.

[Lamont]

its just stupid


how many of us here have gotten mad at someone and had a blow up and called them a racial term? or if not to their faces, how many of us have called them names behind their back??? and most of us are not racists at all

we all lose out temper

[Ireneparalegal]

What makes this whole thing even sadder in my opinion, is the way the guys who Richards displayed his hatred towards responded back to him, calling him a ****ing cracker, and a ****ing white boy, all the while telling Richards how he went over the line for saying what he said. You really don't have a whole hell of alot of credibility when you put someone down for something, and then do the exact same thing back to them. Yes the guys were hurt and embarrassed, but that still doesn't excuse them for reacting towards Richards the exact way he reacted to them. It makes them lose all credibility.

With all that said, I genuinely do feel horrible for every person out there who were deeply hurt and offended by his words, and it really wouldn't bother me a single bit if I never heard from Richard's in the acting world again.
Now how is that going to look in their stupid lawsuit!!!????:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Brad Russ]

Now how is that going to look in their stupid lawsuit!!!????:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Exactly!! :lol: If they can sue for what Richards said because they were hurt by it, then I guess any person who was in the audience who was "hurt" by their racial slurs could also sue them. I'm not even in law like you are Irene, but even I can see that they have absolutely no case. LOL!! If they get any kind of compensation, it'll either be from Richards because he doesn't want to be dragged to court, or it'll be based on sympathy, not on any kind of broken law.

[James"Thunder"Early]

its just stupid


how many of us here have gotten mad at someone and had a blow up and called them a racial term? or if not to their faces, how many of us have called them names behind their back??? and most of us are not racists at all

we all lose out temperI've never done that, no matter how mad you get at someone there is no reason to call names like that.

[Ireneparalegal]

Exactly!! :lol: If they can sue for what Richards said because they were hurt by it, then I guess any person who was in the audience who was "hurt" by their racial slurs could also sue them. I'm not even in law like you are Irene, but even I can see that they have absolutely no case. LOL!! If they get any kind of compensation, it'll either be from Richards because he doesn't want to be dragged to court, or it'll be based on sympathy, not on any kind of broken law.
That's what I see happening. I see Richards doling out $$ just to keep it out of the courts. Not because he feels he will lose or the court may rule in their favor (highly doubtful), simply because he needs to put this behind him and get on to getting his career back and going forward with apologizing as many ways as he can.

[Brieannas21]

its just stupid


how many of us here have gotten mad at someone and had a blow up and called them a racial term? or if not to their faces, how many of us have called them names behind their back??? and most of us are not racists at all

we all lose out temper

I haven't

[Janice]

I've never done that, no matter how mad you get at someone there is no reason to call names like that.
:yeahthat

[Brian Damage]

I've never done that, no matter how mad you get at someone there is no reason to call names like that.

I agree

[Ireneparalegal]

its just stupid


how many of us here have gotten mad at someone and had a blow up and called them a racial term? or if not to their faces, how many of us have called them names behind their back??? and most of us are not racists at all

we all lose out temper
I am not racist. I don't use the color of one's skin or their race to spew out words of hate, anger or disappointment. When I yell at a bad driver, I say "You stupid jerk" or "you stupid a$$hole"...if it's a woman I say, "You stupid broad". Their skin color and/or race plays no part in how stupid one is when driving or when someone has angered me. I have NEVER used the race of someone to get my point across.

What I hate, is when I have been accused of being racist...THAT PISSES ME OFF. A long time ago when I worked in an automotive store, I was a cashier. A customer accused me of being racist because I took the next person in line when I opened up my line. This person was a black female and I told her that her skin color had nothing to do with it. Yet, she was so adamant that it was. She was the one pointing out her skin color over and over. The only thing I kept thinking was how stupid she was, regardless of her race.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I haven't
I haven't either.

[Lamont]

well im glad that those who replied have NOT used the N word, BUT me personally, i grew up in Washington DC and later in Philadelphia and for 2 years in New Jersey and heard hundreds of people use it in anger--- most of them were not racist, they just talked stupid when they got mad

it doesnt make it right, but just because someone uses the N word in anger
we should not automatically assume they hate black people