Comments on: 'Kramer' Apologizes, Says He's Not Racist

Actor Michael Richards Says His Rage Went 'All Over The Room'

[killer139]

edr123, ratsstar1, bigmike,
Well noone in my family has been killed because of the color of their skin you were correct, but when people do make racial comments all the time for fun and get alot of laughs. Come on I bet big mike will let you borrow his copy of Russel Simmons Def C

[kcgodschild]

All the people who think what Michael said was ok and no big deal are just as racist as he. To even try and give that tired apology was a bigger slap in the "Afro-Americans" faces. He shouldn't have apologized, be a man and stand behind what you say and how you feel. It's no way in the world you can say all those disrespectful things and then turn around and say your not a racist. Those things Michael said, probably run through his mind everytime he looks at an "Afro-American". Dont' tell black people how they should feel and what they should let go because you've never been in their shoes.

[cbgb31]

If Michael Richards is a racist than Chris Rock is a bigot. There, done.

[steve_elrod]

And since Richard took the time to apologize on David Letterman in a sincere apology. YES THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH!! especially in this over blown nothing made into HEADLINE NEWS!!..I support his apology!!.... Steve of Alamogordo, New Mexico

[steve_elrod]

What happened to Richard has happened to us all when your push so far. You blow up rather your a professional or not because you can only take so much. Besides you can't have it both ways, If you started an arguement by calling someone a name then don't be shocked if you get called a name back, even if it's one that's uncalled for!.I've been in sports and in the locker room you hear people of different colors call each other names like Richard had called the heckeler in the audience all the time..so if they think it's no big deal in the locker room then why should it be a big deal in a club?...

[mzking2u]

African-american comics have made numerous racial "jokes". They are meant to be funny, to poke fun at the 'cultural' differences. However, I have NEVER seen an African-American comic or a comic of any other nationality respond to hecklers (hecklers: an every day occurance in a stand-up comics job) in that manner. It wasn't meant to be funny, it was from a deep-seeded, angry, hateful place, and no matter how many times it gets explained in this forum, it wont' change that. Sometimes I get angry while driving, or in my workplace, and even in the privacy of my car, or in my office, my mind would never allow me to react in that manner. It's inexcusable, and the even sadder part is that the majority, is more upset over a stupid book that OJ was trying to publish, that noone would buy, than over this!

[agnim]

Of course mere apology is never going to be good enough.

The culprit must convince others with equal gusto of of his bigoted outburst that he is REFORMED!
Then and only then should his apology be completely accepted.

However, is it possible to teach the old dog, richard, new tricks of friendliness? Doubt it.

Rabid richard was prolly 'born' and bred a bigot. LOL

[boston1954]

I do not care if he apologizes every week for the rest of his life. An outburst like that is inexcusable.

[agnim]

"I'm just tired of everyone pointing fingers at the caucasion people because our ancenstors were confused about a few things."

siobhan84 at 03:31 PM : Nov 21, 2006

Seems like it wasn't just the "ancestors were confused"?

The incident wasn't about white comedian making ethnic joke. Hopefully, that fact will end the inherited 'confusion'? LOL

The rabid racist richard APOLOGIZED!

You really think that the krappy kramer was apologizing over a mere 'joke'?

[feistyone1]

I am shocked that many people here think what Michael said was okay because he's a comedian and was pushed by some heckler. It's funny when people make fun of each other's culture. We could all laugh at that, however; Michael was embarassed by someone telling him he's not funny. Instead of being professional about it, he started saying some things that are very hurtful to blacks and should be hurtful to everyone hearing it.
Let's all work to stop racism. It doesn't benefit the United States of America.

[loveplayaboy]

Okay, no one cares about the heckler. He is not a celebrity. It does not matter what he said. What matters is what Richards said. The people came for Richards. He is the one who acted as Kramer on Seinfeld. So when he says what he said, the media will obviously run with it. Who really cares what the heckler said. Unless the heckler is Chris Tucker. Richards should have shut the heckler up with some that people would have humorous, isn't he a comedian. As him if he could carry the act, and act as if you were him and mess the act up. Chapelle could make this work. Obviously, Richards is not a good stand-up comedian, his career is done. Then again, it was over when Seinfeld ended.

[cbse3]

Back to Heckle and Jeckel, If they are willing to throw rotten tomatoes at the act on the stage, where ever that stage is or who ever is on it, don't be supprised if you get dem toematers rite back in ur face.

[margo03]

I myself have been a huge fan of Seinfeld and my favorite character happened to be Kramer. When I heard the remarks that were said by this gentleman I was shocked. I think about the babies, the young men, and women raped tortured and burned in the past and him taking this step will damage his career. I know Mr Richards has a daughter and I wonder if he is raising her with the same values that it seems he has.I am a black female and I know that there is racism in the world and I know it is difficult to get along with every race because race will always be an issue. There will never be harmony between the races and I think we should all live with this. The best thing to do is to respect the next man and hopefully they will respect you but keep in mind when you step on the next man toes eventually you will be stepped on....

[siobhan84-2009]

What? You mean history has anything to do with the current state of America? Wow, and here I thought we should just drop history in the school system all together. By accepting today's current state of America rather than trying to change it by example, it's the reason why comments like Richards occur. There are double standards and yes our history caused it but guess what, what we do today can change that. Condoning racism by either side is as good as doing it yourself.

[loveplayaboy]

I believe Blacks are not on the same rung because of the vicious cycle of poverty and segregation that plagues and continues to plague them. The segregation exists today. For some reason, many people think that just because slavery ended, Blacks have been free. No, that is not the case. If it were, Martin Luther King Jr. would have had to lead a million man march and speak in front of many in Washington D.C. in 1963. That is not even 50 years ago. As it stands now, Blacks are a minority in America, so integrating them into a more properous role in American society should be difficult. I believe only about 15% of America is Black, something like that. And with segreation still present, it is going to take a while. Affirmative action will help ease the transtion for Blacks into a more prominent role in our social structure. It will also give hope for them. This will help break the cycle of poorer Blacks(not just Blacks, LAtinos, other minorities) and allow for a more peaceful America in the future. Just my POV. There is no such thing a true peace.

[onepurpose2]

loveplayaboy,

Good job... However, we need to figure out why Black American's are not on the same rung as White Americans. That is the question of the century!

[loveplayaboy]

Many of us whites here seem to be redirecting Richards guilt on Black comedians and whinning about some double standard. Are you guys just plain stupid? Do you guys even know anything about American history and the current state of America? As a 10th grader, I don't even question the double standard. It's there because of where Blacks stand in our social structure, and we whites play a huge role in that.

[onepurpose2]

Not really. The craft of comedy is a revenue generating action. People getting up and walking out is just as rude as a comment. A Latte and the comedy of a comedian are exactly the same. As service is provided for money. If you don't like the service, then you can either comment on it, leave fealing like you got ripped off or stay and continue to endure the experience. We also don't know what was said to draw a reaction from the heckler.

[ihave4rugratshelp]

Comedians and lattas are not the same thing--I said Richards did not handle the hecklers professionally--I'll wonder if the people sitting by the hecklers got their money's worth--making the hecklers out to be totally innocent is a stretch--I've seen enough comedians live to know that some of the hecklers in the audience can be just as thoughtless and cruel as Richards was.

[tonnie45]

Onepurpose: On what you just said I agree 100%. Now if everyone else would wake up and realize that same thing, whether black or white or whatever this world would be a better place.