Men Want Apology From Michael Richards

(AP)  Two men who say they were insulted by actor-comedian Michael Richards during his racist rant at a comedy club want a personal apology and maybe some money, one of the men and their lawyer said Friday.

Frank McBride and Kyle Doss said they were part of a group of about 20 people who had gathered at West Hollywood's Laugh Factory to celebrate a friend's birthday. According to their attorney, Gloria Allred, they were ordering drinks when Richards berated them for interrupting his act.

When one of their group replied that he wasn't funny, Richards launched into a string of obscenities and repeatedly used the n-word. A video cell phone captured the outburst.

Richards, who played Jerry Seinfeld's wacky neighbor Kramer on the TV sitcom "Seinfeld," made a nationally televised apology on the "Late Show with David Letterman" earlier this week. He has since apologized to the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, both civil rights leaders.

But Doss, 26, said Friday he wanted a "face-to-face apology."

"To have him do what he did to me ... I can't even explain it," Doss said. "I was humiliated, even scared at one point."

Richards' publicist said his client wants to apologize to both men, who are black, but hasn't been able to locate them.

Allred, speaking by phone from Colorado, said Richards should meet McBride and Doss in front of a retired judge to "acknowledge his behavior and to apologize to them" and allow the judge to decide on monetary compensation.

"It's not enough to say 'I'm sorry' on 'David Letterman,'" she said.

She did not mention a specific figure, but pitched the idea as a way for the comic to avoid a lawsuit.

"Our clients were vulnerable," Allred said. "He went after them. He singled them out and he taunted them, and he did it in a closed room where they were captive."

The video of Richards' outburst shows several people getting up and walking out as he shouts at the audience.

Richards' publicist said the comic wasn't considering any demand for payment. "He's not dealing with that," Howard Rubenstein said. "He wants to apologize to them directly and then see what happens."

[mochapman522]

Richards was stupid. One is supposed to put their brain in gear before opening one's mouth. That being said, there are a lot of apologies owed to many people for many things. He didn't apologize when he made the remarks and any apology now will be forced. Let's move on and hope that Michael Richards will think before he speaks in public next time.

[tanukisama-2009]

either way, a small thing was made too big, but at least cosmos didn't deny he made a mistake, he definately knew he took it too far immediately, but anyone who ever puts themselves out there to be made a spectacle of ( like any civil rights leader including martin luther king jr. knows very well) that something happens between your intent and drive or desire to do good and people's interpretations of your actions so a little more understanding and patience with that is all anyone needs, and all that will ever be needed. if at first ou don't succeed, try and try and try again, untill the act becomes funny again

[tanukisama-2009]

Anyways... usually it is also commonplace to expect that when paying someone respect for a perticular profesional service, in this case it happens to be being a stand-up comic, that a certain level of all around politeness for the person subjecting themselves to the spotlight of the stage and all of the levels of stress that go with it, weighing constantly on the human psyche evolved animal mentality, so yes of course it is also a strenuous activity to begin with and it was out of place to instigate anything intended to put down the comedians act, let alone say anything at all, and the persons who were 'retorted' against should pay it good mind that they should be very well able to act like adults and not whine over a comedian act and turn it into something as so unrelated to the event as to demand monetary compensation, that's making something from nothing and again when are people going to learn that there's enough old people dubbing the name 'politician' (avoiding the nice retirement homes and wal-mart jobs they should be attending to ) and *** up our once beautiful world because they refuse to accept that change and evolving to accept things is a naural part of the course of the universe's destiny.

[renee1979-2009]

What exactly did Richards retaliate to? And audience member telling a stand up comedian, his not funny???If he was a perfessional about it, he could have ripped on him without insluting him or his race, thats what comics do...Its not even the fact that he said the "N" word about 11 times, its more about the comments he made like the pitch fork, and getting the two men arrested cause he is rich and white...and that they will always be "N's"...What is that??? Also you cannot fault the guys for wanting money now, they were probably hounded by lawyers, telling them they could get this & that....What Richards said was hurtful and humiliating to all people...

[phdpharm]

First, let's not forget who is wrong here. The guilty party is not those men. His behavior was totally unacceptable, and just because you called Al Sharpton and apologized to him or got on Letterman does not excuse your behavior. Opinons have already been formed. If they receive money, so be it. Maybe next time he will keep racial slurs in his brain and not in his mouth.

[ichabod57]

Racial pride? Personally, I think these guys should just grow up. There was no personal physical attack and nobody was left bleeding or had to have medical treatment. This entire country is lawsuit happy and thin skinned.

[enero2]

richards was not the instigator. he merely retaliated. more power to him. it was blown out of proportion. the aftermath is proving ro be excessive, and laughable.

[bitsy13]

even though it appears that they started it, michael still made a public apology. i think that should be enough. also if they want an apology, they should make themselves available.