'Seinfeld's' Richards Spews Racial Slurs

Jerry Seinfeld Speaks Out On Former Co-Star's Derogatory Remarks At Comedy Club

(CBS)  "Seinfeld" alum Michael Richards spewed racial remarks at a heckler in the crowd during a set at The Laugh Factory last Friday in West Hollywood, TMZ reports.

A video on the site shows the actor, 57, who made a name for himself as Kramer, Jerry Seinfeld's neighbor on the sitcom "Seinfeld," repeatedly yelling racial remarks at a man who sat in the audience at the comedy club. It apparently happened after someone in the crowd said he wasn't funny.

"Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f------ fork up your ass," he says while on stage.

"You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now motherf------. Throw his ass out. He's a n-----! He's a n-----! He's a n-----! A n-----, look, there's a n-----!"

Gasps and boos from the crowd can be heard in the video. One of the men who Richards yelled at shouted back "That's un-f------ called for. Ain't necessary," TMZ reports.

A call from the The ShowBuzz to the actor's agent was not returned on Monday morning.

---

Click here to see photos of Michael Richards

---

Darryl Pitts is a black man who was in the audience that night. "He just took all of the air out of the room," Pitts told CNN. "He needs to make a public apology to everyone."

2CNN reports that Richards was back on stage 24 hours later. He told CNN off camera that he felt sorry for what happened and he made amends — to whom or how, he didn't say.

Jerry Seinfeld issued a statement to the Associate Press on Monday 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.

Comedian Paul Rodriguez was at the club when it happened and told the AP he thought Richards' comments 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."

According to the AP, actor-comedian George Lopez told Los Angeles TV 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."

[gash_them]

http://www.workers.org/ww/1998/seinfeld0528.php

[gash_them]

PEOPLE OF COLOUR COME TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE IT, THIS IS A END TIME BATTLE


ALL HISPANIC, ASIANS, MIDDLE EASTNERS, BLACKS, INDIANS, AFRICANS

RESPECT EACHOTHER, FOR THEM WE ARE ALL SAME. SO NO NEED TO QUARREL. STOP FIGHT EACHOTHER & MAKE CASH. CASH RULES THIS WORLD IF YOU HAVE IT YOU WILL BE ALLRIGHT. IT IS NOT RIGHT TO PUT THE TRUST IN MONEY BUT MONEY IS THE ONLY WAY FROM OUT OF THIS BONDAGE OF WHITE SUPREMACY. WE MUST BUILD A BETTER WORLD AND KEEP IT LOCKED FROM VAMPIRES.


SANDOKAN THE ASIAN LION

[gash_them]

PEOPLE OF COLOUR COME TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE IT, THIS IS A END TIME BATTLE

PEOPLE OF COLOUR COME TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE IT, THIS IS A END TIME BATTLE

PEOPLE OF COLOUR COME TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE IT, THIS IS A END TIME BATTLE

[warlance-2009]

I have lost ALL respect for Michael Richards. He displayed a complete lack of professionalism and showed why his post-Seinfeld series only lasted one episode. This no talent BIGGOT just threw away any hopes for a career he might have had. As for his appology, it was not believable either. He should not have to apologize, for he was merely showing his true nature, much like many of those responding in this blog. Racism and bigotry are part of America, since it's very foundation is built upon the annihilation of one race and the enslavement of another - all based on race. Michael Richards' immature tirade is merely another reflection of this fact. The intergenerationa trauma experienced by minorities has now come full circle now that the minorities are now the majority. I truly do not see the humor in Michael Richards' tirade and no longer see the humor in the Seinfeld reruns. His racial hatred has become quite evident, along with his immaturity and complete lack of talent.

[riclanders]

I don't like the idea that there's a word so awful that once a person uses it his public life is over.

What bothers me is that when we ramp-up the the penalty for the use of the N-word -- public death -- we give it a power no word should have.

Also, we obliquely encourage even more use of it by the gangster rap element.

You think they over-use the word now? Wait until they hear the hysteria "Richard's" use of it caused.

I forgive Richards because not forgiving him gives him a power over me I refuse to let him (or anyone!) have.

[dixiegent67]

those poor black boys that heard the n word,poor poor boys,yea right,like they have never said worst,i wouldnt have apologized for anything,freedom of speech goes for whites as well as for a couple of offended black guys that couldnt keep their mouths shut to start with,if he hadnt been heckled,they wouldnt have pissed him off,why dont they just go back to the hood and carjack someone,and forget the whole thing,i know,pretend he was richard pryor,or eddie murphy,and that fixes everything,,,,,

[riclanders]

I don't like the idea that there's a word so awful that once a person uses it his public life is over.

What bothers me is that when we ramp-up the the penalty for the use of the N-word -- public death -- we give it a power no word should have.

Also, we obliquely encourage even more use of it by the gangster rap element.

You think they over-use the word now? Wait until they hear the hysteria "Richard's" use of it caused.

I forgive Richards because not forgiving him gives him a power over me I refuse to let him (or anyone!) have.

[ladycascadia]

It's too bad that some people seem to think it is ok to make jokes and comments at the expense of others...whether it is racial or not. The classic comedians like Red Skelton or Lucille Ball knew how to get a laugh without having to be racist or vulgar, maybe this new breed of comedians need to learn how to do the same...

[missyj1964]

Doesn't anyone watch "Mind of Mencia"? He pulls this stuff out of his a s s all the time but no one is making him apologize. Eddie Murphy and the late Richard Pryor also did stand up routines where they mimicked white people as well as Blacks and Hispanics. No one made a big deal about that. As for the reason why some people see blacks and other minorities as "bad" is because the media hypes it up. When you see a story on the news about a shooting or a drug bust, who do you see? You see Black people and Hispanics, 9 out of 10 times. If a white person commits a crime like that, you either don't see it on the news or it's a blurb on the way to a commercial. That's sad but it is true. White people commit crimes of a horrendous nature every single day, but it's the minorities who get their faces plastered on the TV. That is exactly why white people have a stigma about Blacks and others of color. The media has been the biggest source for racism that I have ever seen.

[kailumego1]

davejwest, you are a real joke, and obviously suffering from "stupiditous". Europeans have had a long history of committing violent acts against others, the Greeks, the Romans, the English, the French, the Dutch, the Beligum, the Germans [not counting Hitlers atrocities], the Russians [not counting Stalin's merciless rage of murder against his own people, Ukrainians, Polish, and other Republics], the Spaniards, European settlers in North and South America, etc., etc., etc.

Step out of your delusion of grandeur, "The Gangs of New York" was a true story, telling the story how conditions were for Southern/Eastern European settlers.

Obviously you know very little American history, because if you did, you would reframe from the conjecture.

During the early 20th Century, huge concentrations of European imigrants resided in large urban cities, which resulted in overcrowded condidtions and high unemployment.

This period saw its premier criminal enterprises, with Italian, Irish, and Jewish mobs, terrorizing large metropolitan cities.

I guess you have know knowledge of Al Capone, Dutch Schultz, Bugsy Segal, Sam Giancanna, etc., these were a few of the criminal element during the early 20th Century, and they were not black.

[kailumego1]

Blackwriter, I couldn't have said it better myself. God, that was good, took the offensive approach, I can tell you are one that thinks before he/she speaks.

The first post I've read that takes my breath away, you are really good.

I thought the same exact thing myself, he's out of the closet now, and no, he doesn't have anything to apologize for, especially, exposing his true self.

You stated subconscious, but I think his thoughts are on the conscious level, because he didn't sweat, as the words just rolled from his lips. He was quite confortable blurting that out.

Now, if all it takes is putting individuals like him on the spot, to reveal his/her true self, then just imagine how better off a lot of us will be.

What I find interesting, however, is the number of those chosing rationalized his comments comparing this obscenity to comments made by black comedians, these are the quiet, smile in your face, slit your throat people.

I've heard some comments made by black comedians, and never have I heard any such as the derogatory conmments made by him, but one good thing it let's you know the intellectual mentality of some people.

[longhaul27]

Prejudice may be inherent in every person- we are shaped by our experiences or the teachings of others about their experiences, but not racism- not everyone buys into the obviously ridiculous theories that 'ALL white people are proper and act like they are not hip', 'all black people are not good people', 'all Mexicans are illegal immigrants', etc. It's all nonsense and I am sick and tired of it. People use racism to make ourselves feel superior. Unfortunately, demeaning your fellow man/woman only points out the obvious- that you have to stoop to levels that have no real substance, in order to ignore what really bothers you (that you are mad at the person- NOT the race...but have little to accuse the person of- other than not being on your good side). I think Kramer owes the black community a better apology that he offered last night- his tirade, and his so-called 'mending' were absolutely disrespectful, and he should be ashamed of himself (as should every person who cannot see the commonalities we all share as human beings on this great Earth). Wake up people, and smell the reality that is a multicultural America. Before you criticise my points made (some of you)
imagine what America would be like- without the Germans, without the Irish, without the Polish, without the Italians, without the Jews, without the Chinise, without Mexicans, without African-Americans.....how many of us would still be here?

[davejwest]

When black comedians stop incorporating into their so called comedy acts, that whites are basically responsible for their plight in life & spooing their racist ***, in my opinion, they'll just have to endure the "***" word.
"People" don't like blacks because of the criminal image that blacks have gave themselves in life. It has nothing to do with their color. It has to do with their bad, violent attitudes & their view points about whites in general. When you know someone doesn't like you & blames you for their problems, you can't possibly like those type of people! I use to like blacks back in the sixties & seventies, but they prooved to me that they basically don't like whites in general. I've had so much of their *** about slavery thrown in my face, which I or other whites have had nothing to do with, that I avoid them at all costs. I'm mad because Michael Richard apologized for calling them the *** word. After all we have freedom of expression in this country. I suggest that the blacks get use to it, because whites have had to put up with their racist slurs!

[terrid1129]

I believe the only people that give this word power are people that are hurt by the word everytime it is used. The only ones to stop the power of the N word are the African Americans. Rascism exsist because a majority of white, Black, Asian, Mexican, You name it Americans NEED it. They use it as excuses in there life. I find alot of children dont understand racism fully until they see a family member get so mad for example this insident. Now this word is ingrained into any childs head as a racist word. And racsim continues on and on. Racism will not go away becasue no one wants it to.

With that out of the way being american, Richards acting unprofessionaly. Thats it.... He took it to far when he let the heckler get to him. A good standup never lets the heckler steal the show.

[gbjump]

Remember that time when Kramer threw the ball filled with oil over the building? Jeez, that was funny. He was all like- watch out! I laughed really hard. My cat looked at me all like- what's the matter with you. That made me laugh so hard I knocked over the macaroni and cheese. That's the problem here- not enough funny around.

[benhammer286]

His reason for speaking the words was not contingent upon his believing them to be true, rather to believe that they would sustain pain on his attacker. He was trying to use words that would hurt. It was not professional, but it isn't nescessarily racist.

[danceaway]

It is true that rappers spew out the N word left and right. I absolutely hate that and don%u2019t agree with it at all. The use of the word by rappers has been a battle for a long time. I think it shouldn%u2019t even be used at all. However it is also the way in which the word is used. Constantly saying the N word and using it in the context in which Richards did it is hurtful and degrading. His comment where he says %u201CFifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f------ fork up your ***%u201D is sickening. Michael Richards might have meant it for just this one guy but all black people feel the harm in those words.
Comments like his and what Conan O%u2019Brien does with his %u2018Pale Face%u2019 skit where the supposed %u2018Man%u2019 beats up black women in the skit. All of this is not funny and makes you feel like they are trying to make you feel less than human.
Right now I don%u2019t know what to think about Michael Richards right now. I hope one day I can watch Kramer and still laugh as hard as I used to. But it%u2019s going to be a struggle when someone you loved to watch has done something like this.
It%u2019s good he apologized. I hope it can mend somehow.

[mrsjohnson2]

No Strany 1. Maybe you, like other Richards, don't take it seriously enough.To let something that, that had been dwelling inside of himself seep out was stupid. Obviously: Yes people are brought up and taught to be racist, yes the n word has interchangable meanings(depending on the speakers race). This is America and that is are reality rather it's right or wrong.The reality is all these things exist in America, also in the U.S it's expected to be accountable for your own actions, and rather it's right or wrong that is the society your are in, if you don't like it move to an island and and make your own rule's of ethic's. In addition,for this specific incident his lack of professionalism should be in question. Being a comedian is an occupation, no different from being a manager at Kinko's. If I was that manager and you were the employee than you would be offended if I said " Hey I would have invited you to my party, but I know your white and can't dance". Not only is that racist, but it would be stupid for me to bring something out of my personal life into my professional life. Even if i was raised to think it was ok the work field is a public domain.

[czarhezar]

Let's face it, there's prejudice in every single human being, whether consciencely or sub-consciensly, regardless of race.

[czarhezar]

Lets face it, there's prejudice in every single human being regardless of race.