MetroSource News 11/19/2006 18:40:35
Michael Richards Tirade
>>Michael Richards Criticized For Using "N" Word
(Los Angeles, CA) -- Former "Seinfeld" actor Michael Richards is catching heat for a racially charged tirade during a recent stand-up routine at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. An audience member who witnessed the tirade tells CNN that Richards ripped into a group of hecklers after they told him he wasn't funny. Using the racially offensive "N" word, Richards reportedly told the group that 50 years earlier they would have been strung upside down on a tree for speaking their mind. When CNN caught up with Richards, the news network says Richards told them that the incident was regretful and that he had made amends, but he did not say how or with whom. At least one audience member says Richards should issue a public apology for the tirade. Michael Richards is best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's wacky neighbor Cosmo Kramer on NBC's hit 1990s TV series "Seinfeld."
Full Version: OMG! Kramer said what?
TMZ.com has it all on video.
This is both sad and disgusting. It's sad for the fact of how far Richards has fallen from grace. It's disgusting for how there are some people in the audience who are laughing at this vile, hate-filled diatribe. I heard this venom this morning and wondered what state of mind he had to be in to say this. 
Presumably he too will now plead alcoholism and enter a rehab center.
Or he'll start posting on Outsportd, as other bigots do. 
Well he apparently will offer some sort of apology later tonight on David Letterman. Turns out Jerry Seinfeld is a guest and Richards appears via satellite during the interview. Sounds like Must See TV to me!
If I were Seinfeld, I wouldn't really want to be dragged into this.
I saw this on the tv as I was passing through the lobby of my office building today and I was not surprised at all. Nothing anyone does surprises me...especially somethin like that. Now he wants to apologize and say he was responding to a heckler and that he's not a bigot. I mean if you are a professional and successful comedic like he is, you'd think he wouldn't get so peeved over what someone in the audience said. Comics who are piss poor don't even respond that way to hecklers in the audience.
Of course, I have been watching the media go crazy over this incident. It is obvious to me that Mr. Richards was under the influence of substances when he went on this tirade. His behavior is not excused. He should apologize, they lay low for some time and get on with his life. Personally, I think there are bigger issues in life. His actions reflect poorly on Mr. Richards, shame on him. Having hate in your heart in my opinion is the worst handicap one can be inflicted with.
QUOTE(blkbear @ Nov 20 2006, 10:00 PM) 
Of course, I have been watching the media go crazy over this incident. It is obvious to me that Mr. Richards was under the influence of substances when he went on this tirade. His behavior is not excused. He should apologize, they lay low for some time and get on with his life. Personally, I think there are bigger issues in life. His actions reflect poorly on Mr. Richards, shame on him. Having hate in your heart in my opinion is the worst handicap one can be inflicted with.
I agree 100 % but at the same time I feel compelled to say that if I didn't like a certain comedian,I would just walk out instead of announcing to the rest of the audience that he/she stinks.
QUOTE(eddiec. @ Nov 21 2006, 10:58 AM)
I agree 100 % but at the same time I feel compelled to say that if I didn't like a certain comedian,I would just walk out instead of announcing to the rest of the audience that he/she stinks.
Heckling is part of the stand-up experience. It's something you risk when you agree to walk out on that stage; a hazard of the job, as it were. The best stand-ups can use comedy to get the audience at large on their side and put the hecklers in their place. The way Michael Richards responded was personally disgusting and professionally amateur. Not even amateur, because I've seen plenty of undiscovered stand-ups in New York who approach their comedy with much more regard for themselves and the audience.
And there's nothing more useless than the type of lame "I'm not racist" apology that he issued. It reminds me of an episode of Friends where Phoebe tells someone that saying "I'm not a pervert" is, in fact, the pervert motto. "I'm not a racist" is the cry of all racists once they are exposed. Actions speak louder than words.
Racism, thy name is Michael "Kramer" Richards.
QUOTE(UCLAfan @ Nov 21 2006, 01:17 PM)
Racism, thy name is Michael "Kramer" Richards.
i'm not racist my ass.
the apology sounds phony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENPFJqokPs0
I went to a comedy show several years back. One of the stand-up comics was Eddie Griffin. He went through an entire stint where, as a white male sitting in the audience, I felt like digging a hole and crawling out of the theater. Eddie Griffin made me feel that uncomfortable to be a white man. He was just out of control mocking everything about how a white person talks, walks, eats, sleeps, etc....
My friends (who are black) kept looking at me because they knew that Eddie Griffin's material was making me feel very uncomfortable. Griffin even went as far as taunting any white people who were watching this act by letting them know he was serious.
Granted Michael Richards was not right with his crazt rant, but why are black comics like Eddie Griffin allowed to devote their entire act to stereotyping other races in such a nasty way? I am a human being with feelings too, but because I am white I am not supposed to be sensitive and feel offended? I have to let it go because this is just the way things are? I guess a black comic has the license to go anywhere with his material (and I mean totally anywhere) while a white comic has limits.
My friends (who are black) kept looking at me because they knew that Eddie Griffin's material was making me feel very uncomfortable. Griffin even went as far as taunting any white people who were watching this act by letting them know he was serious.
Granted Michael Richards was not right with his crazt rant, but why are black comics like Eddie Griffin allowed to devote their entire act to stereotyping other races in such a nasty way? I am a human being with feelings too, but because I am white I am not supposed to be sensitive and feel offended? I have to let it go because this is just the way things are? I guess a black comic has the license to go anywhere with his material (and I mean totally anywhere) while a white comic has limits.
QUOTE(gomets29 @ Nov 21 2006, 02:29 PM)
That is extremely disturbing. What a crazy mess.I guess this would be considered career suicide.
QUOTE(amazin12 @ Nov 21 2006, 07:58 PM)
I guess a black comic has the license to go anywhere with his material (and I mean totally anywhere) while a white comic has limits.
Amazin, I understand what you are saying and before seeing the footage, I had a similar reaction. I though that maybe Michael Richards was being edgy and insightful and, through his comedy, making a point about race relations (or something) that just got misinterpreted.
But when you watch it, you can see how full of hate and bile he seems to be. His rant was not part of his comedy. Instead, it was a lashing out against the hecklers who just happened to be black. And it was ugly.
Is the actual heckling that prompted Richards' comments available on YouTube? That would be interesting to see.
QUOTE(eddiec. @ Nov 21 2006, 02:08 PM)
I guess this would be considered career suicide.
He still has a career?
QUOTE(amazin12 @ Nov 21 2006, 07:58 PM)
I went to a comedy show several years back. One of the stand-up comics was Eddie Griffin. He went through an entire stint where, as a white male sitting in the audience, I felt like digging a hole and crawling out of the theater. Eddie Griffin made me feel that uncomfortable to be a white man. He was just out of control mocking everything about how a white person talks, walks, eats, sleeps, etc....
My friends (who are black) kept looking at me because they knew that Eddie Griffin's material was making me feel very uncomfortable. Griffin even went as far as taunting any white people who were watching this act by letting them know he was serious.
Granted Michael Richards was not right with his crazt rant, but why are black comics like Eddie Griffin allowed to devote their entire act to stereotyping other races in such a nasty way? I am a human being with feelings too, but because I am white I am not supposed to be sensitive and feel offended? I have to let it go because this is just the way things are? I guess a black comic has the license to go anywhere with his material (and I mean totally anywhere) while a white comic has limits.
I hear what you are saying. Then again, I believe that no matter what race, age, gender, etc. of the entertainer, if that person makes me feel uncomfortable and does not entertain me, I choose to not spend the money and the time to watch him or her in other projects.
For the record, I tolerated Michael Richards on "Seinfeld".
As far as Eddie Griffin is concerned, as a gay, bearish African-American male, I don't believe I fit his target audience. I think I saw one of his standups on TV and I was not impressed.
QUOTE(NCAA Umpire @ Nov 21 2006, 08:51 PM)
He still has a career?
LOL -- i've stated many times I thought Seinfeld was about the unfunniest show (and thus overrated) ever on TV.. I probably saw a half-dozen episodes to see what all the comotion was about -- and maybe had one half-hearted chuckle during all those. And I couldn't decide if this guy or Jason Alexander was the least talented of the bunch. Now we know the answer.
Oh God Bucky I couldn't agree with you more! I have said for years that Seinfeld is the most singularly overrated show in TV history. I think Jerry and Julia Louis Dreyfuss are pretty funny but the show itself was just lame. A few good episodes here and there but not worth all the praise.
And to think this boob won three Emmy Awards for playing Kramer!
And to think this boob won three Emmy Awards for playing Kramer!
Ugh...thank the lord I'm not the only one who thought Seinfeld was overrated. Friends is another comedic show that I just didn't see what was so special about it.
I agree. Seinfeld was overrated. There was one or two episodes that I liked. But it was Larry David, the creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm, that made the show. He is the actual comedian, and funny person out of the bunch.
I agree about the racism of some black comedics. It is ridiculous because others would be deemed racist, etc. Thankfully there is Margaret Cho and Ellen to make me laugh.
And was I reading correctly that Richards said, after his rant, that it is amazing what is in the subconscious or something along those lines?
I agree about the racism of some black comedics. It is ridiculous because others would be deemed racist, etc. Thankfully there is Margaret Cho and Ellen to make me laugh.
And was I reading correctly that Richards said, after his rant, that it is amazing what is in the subconscious or something along those lines?
I think Richards should have tried to calm things down by doing what Isaiah Washington did on Oprah this week.
As most of you remember, Isaiah Washington referred to T.R. Knight as a "f**king f****t" during his fight on the set of Grey's Anatomy with Patrick Dempsey.
Well, Washington, on Oprah this week, said of the incident, "It was a combination of fatigue, pride, passion ... I've been working with these beautiful men for three years now and we had an argument as brothers. I lost my cool ... It was coming out of a place of trying to stay focused about the work and the one thing I understand about myself and my passion about everything I do is that the opposite of love is indifference. Out of that caring, we got ourselves into a debate that had to happen."
Now THAT'S funny!
The link
As most of you remember, Isaiah Washington referred to T.R. Knight as a "f**king f****t" during his fight on the set of Grey's Anatomy with Patrick Dempsey.
Well, Washington, on Oprah this week, said of the incident, "It was a combination of fatigue, pride, passion ... I've been working with these beautiful men for three years now and we had an argument as brothers. I lost my cool ... It was coming out of a place of trying to stay focused about the work and the one thing I understand about myself and my passion about everything I do is that the opposite of love is indifference. Out of that caring, we got ourselves into a debate that had to happen."
Now THAT'S funny!
The link
Number 1 - all of you who believe "Seinfeld" and/or "Friends" were overrated need to leave the country, because that's just unpatriotic! 
But seriously, unfortunately the whole thing is now about $$. Two of the guys who were the target of Richards' outburst were on the Today show this AM, and they're already lawyered up, with Gloria Allred, who I believe was Amber Frey's attorney. She issued a challenge to Richards to meet with the men in front of a retired judge, hear the pain Richards caused, and then pay the men whatever the judge thinks is reasonable. I think that is just sad. Richards was offensive, disgusting, unfunny, and deserves to have his career ruined over it, but he doesn't owe any money to these guys - maybe to the owner of the club for ruining business that night, but not these guys.
I will say that their story was even worse than the video showed - they say the "interruption" that set Richards off was their large party - 15 or so- ordering drinks, as they had just arrived at the club, which is not exactly "heckling." It was only after Richards said something to their group (not racist at that point) that one guy did say "You're not funny." They also say that Richards made even more comments than were caught on the tape, including making references to slavery, and stating "I'll still be rich in the morning, and you'll still be a n****r." Truly offensive.
But seriously, unfortunately the whole thing is now about $$. Two of the guys who were the target of Richards' outburst were on the Today show this AM, and they're already lawyered up, with Gloria Allred, who I believe was Amber Frey's attorney. She issued a challenge to Richards to meet with the men in front of a retired judge, hear the pain Richards caused, and then pay the men whatever the judge thinks is reasonable. I think that is just sad. Richards was offensive, disgusting, unfunny, and deserves to have his career ruined over it, but he doesn't owe any money to these guys - maybe to the owner of the club for ruining business that night, but not these guys.
I will say that their story was even worse than the video showed - they say the "interruption" that set Richards off was their large party - 15 or so- ordering drinks, as they had just arrived at the club, which is not exactly "heckling." It was only after Richards said something to their group (not racist at that point) that one guy did say "You're not funny." They also say that Richards made even more comments than were caught on the tape, including making references to slavery, and stating "I'll still be rich in the morning, and you'll still be a n****r." Truly offensive.
That truly is beyond ridiculous if these men are now being represented by Gloria Allred in an attempt to get money out of all of this. I guess it really was all about money and fame for them. How sad. To somehow pretend that they were harmed by all of this is embarrassing.
FSU, I couldn't have said it any better. How was this incident so damaging to the hecklers? Golddiggers!
Is Gloria Allred some sort of high profile ambulance chaser? She seems to show up on CNN for just about any celebrity type "case" in California. Does she have a 1-800-$$$-$$$$ number or something.
Yes it would be interested to hear the heckling that drove Richards over the top? And arent people over reacting here? I mean this is a COMEDY CLUB- the man was not running for congress.
The Michael Richards Apology Tour continued today on Jesse Jackson's syndicated radio show:
QUOTE
Comedian Michael Richards said Sunday he did not consider himself a racist, and said he was "shattered" by the comments he made to two young black men during a tirade at a Los Angeles comedy club.
Richards appeared on the Rev. Jesse Jackson's nationally syndicated radio program, "Keep Hope Alive," as a part of a series of apologies for the incident. He said he knew his comments hurt the black community, and hoped to meet with the two men.
He told Jackson that he had not used the language before.
"That's why I'm shattered by it. The way this came through me was like a freight train. After it was over, when I went to look for them, they had gone. And I've tried to meet them, to talk to them, to get some healing," he said.
Richards, who played Jerry Seinfeld's wacky neighbor Kramer on the TV sitcom "Seinfeld," was performing at West Hollywood's Laugh Factory last week when he lashed out at hecklers with a string of racial obscenities and profane language. A cell phone videocamera captured the outburst, and the incident later appeared on TMZ.com.
Richards told Jackson the tirade was fueled by anger, not bigotry.
"I was in a place of humiliation," he said.
Richards' publicist, Howard Rubenstein, said Saturday that Richards has begun psychiatric counseling in Los Angeles to learn how to manage his anger and understand why he made the racist remarks.
"He acknowledged that his statements were harmful and opened a terrible racial wound in our nation," Rubenstein said. "He pledges never ever to say anything like that again. He's quite remorseful."
Jackson, who has called Richards' words "hateful," "sick," and "deep-seated," said the comedian's inclusion on the show was a chance for a broader discussion about "cultural isolation" in the entertainment industry.
"We might turn this minus into a plus," Jackson said.
Richards appeared on the Rev. Jesse Jackson's nationally syndicated radio program, "Keep Hope Alive," as a part of a series of apologies for the incident. He said he knew his comments hurt the black community, and hoped to meet with the two men.
He told Jackson that he had not used the language before.
"That's why I'm shattered by it. The way this came through me was like a freight train. After it was over, when I went to look for them, they had gone. And I've tried to meet them, to talk to them, to get some healing," he said.
Richards, who played Jerry Seinfeld's wacky neighbor Kramer on the TV sitcom "Seinfeld," was performing at West Hollywood's Laugh Factory last week when he lashed out at hecklers with a string of racial obscenities and profane language. A cell phone videocamera captured the outburst, and the incident later appeared on TMZ.com.
Richards told Jackson the tirade was fueled by anger, not bigotry.
"I was in a place of humiliation," he said.
Richards' publicist, Howard Rubenstein, said Saturday that Richards has begun psychiatric counseling in Los Angeles to learn how to manage his anger and understand why he made the racist remarks.
"He acknowledged that his statements were harmful and opened a terrible racial wound in our nation," Rubenstein said. "He pledges never ever to say anything like that again. He's quite remorseful."
Jackson, who has called Richards' words "hateful," "sick," and "deep-seated," said the comedian's inclusion on the show was a chance for a broader discussion about "cultural isolation" in the entertainment industry.
"We might turn this minus into a plus," Jackson said.
Lynn Samuels was hilarious on Sirius Left the other day. She said all Michael Richards really needed to say was that he was referring to O.J. and no one would've even cared.
QUOTE
That is extremely disturbing. What a crazy mess.I guess this would be considered career suicide.
One of the Encore channels has been showing Man on the Moon this month, and it makes me wonder if Richards was either conciously or unconciously trying some misguided Andy Kaufman-style of comedy. Remember when Kaufman went on his anti-woman rants and was wrestling women? It's really similar to what Richards said. It's a somewhat eerie coincidence.
Alot of TV pundits spweculated that Richards' outburst would impact Sinfeld in syndication and DVD sales. Whiel I don't know about the TV ratings since this happened, the recent release of season 7 has proven to be the fastest selling season of Seinfeld so far.
Amazon.com also has seasons 1-6 at 50% off from now til Christmas. Don't know if the markdown is a result of the incident, but I would suspect it is.
Amazon.com also has seasons 1-6 at 50% off from now til Christmas. Don't know if the markdown is a result of the incident, but I would suspect it is.
I would have to disagree with previous comments about Seinfeld, the TV show.
I loved it. I think I loved it because my favorite episodes focused on issues, situations, incidents, etc. that happened to me all of the time. The show made me feel like I wasn't the only neurotic person in the world.
I loved it. I think I loved it because my favorite episodes focused on issues, situations, incidents, etc. that happened to me all of the time. The show made me feel like I wasn't the only neurotic person in the world.
George Twins, thanks much for posting that link. It has got to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen...almost made you think the whole rant by Kramer was done for the show!
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