Kramer Hates Blacks? [Archive]

BrickTamland

11-20-2006, 06:08 PM

A barrage of racial epithets unleashed by former "Seinfeld" star Michael Richards during a stand-up comedy routine drew condemnation from Richards' industry colleagues. Comedian Paul Rodriguez, who was at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood on Friday when Richards responded to two black hecklers with the "n" word and profanities, said he was shocked by Richards' remarks.

"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," Rodriguez told CNN. "Freedom of speech has its limitations and I think Michael Richards found those limitations."

Jerry 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 of Richards, 57, who played eccentric Kramer on the hit 1989-98 sitcom and whose major credit since was the failed 2000 comedy series, "The Michael Richards Show."
Calls to Richards' representatives were not returned Monday.

His Laugh Factory tirade began after the two clubgoers shouted at him that he wasn't funny. A videotape of the incident was posted on TMZ.com.

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.

Moderating his tone at one point, Richards tells the audience: "It shocks you. It shocks you" and refers to "what lays buried."

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

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

On Monday, about a half-dozen community activists gathered at the club to denounce Richards' remarks and demand an apology.

"These kind of comments hurt all of us," said protester Lita Sister Herron of the Youth Advocacy Coalition. She called Richards' comments hate speech.

The protesters also demanded an apology from the Laugh Factory. At a news conference a short time later, club owner Jamie Masada expressed remorse and said Richards will not be back at the club until he says he's sorry.

"This is one thing we don't tolerate. ... I personally apologize. I apologize from my heart," Masada said Monday.

Richards did appear at the club Saturday, without incident, but that was because he had told the club he intended to apologize, according to a Laugh Factory statement Monday.

Rodriguez, also at the news conference, said: "I kept expecting a punch line. It didn't come."

Veteran publicist Michael Levine, whose clients have included famed comedians George Carlin (javascript:;) , Sam Kinison and Rodney Dangerfield, called Richards' remarks inexcusable. Comics often face hecklers without losing their cool, he said.

"It's never seen anything like this is my life," Levine said Monday. "I think it's a career ruiner for him. ... It's going to be a long road back for him, if at all."

Daryl Pitts, a Laugh Factory audience member interviewed by CNN, compared the incident to another recent celebrity controversy.

"You think about Mel Gibson (javascript:;) and what he said, and put that in the context of this, it's very upsetting," Pitts said, referring to Gibson's anti-Semitic outburst during his arrest for drunken driving.

Scrutiny of Richards' remarks likely will continue but won't match the level prompted by Gibson's behavior because Richards is far less famous, Levine said.

Comedian George Lopez (javascript:;) 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."

Associated Press Writer Jacob Adelman contributed to this report

Leaping Larry Jojo

11-20-2006, 06:12 PM

I'd heard reports that he's been incredibly bitter in recent years. It's a damn shame.

BrickTamland

11-20-2006, 06:13 PM

I'd heard reports that he's been incredibly bitter in recent years. It's a damn shame.

Considering he seemed so innocent and naive almost child like on Seinfeld. It's a real shame

Leaping Larry Jojo

11-20-2006, 06:18 PM

There's a video of the actual outburst at TMZ.com

It's pretty painful to see.

BrickTamland

11-20-2006, 06:24 PM

There's a video of the actual outburst at TMZ.com

It's pretty painful to see.

I saw it. At first there's loads of laughs, then once the verbal argument started people start to get upset. It's a surprise he wasn't shot.

tb4000

11-20-2006, 06:58 PM

Truth be told, I have been a massive fan of Michael Richards for the longest. But that just seems so bizzare to hear. Granted, the two guys were asses for heckling him, but aren't comedians supposed to be able to take heckling?

Classic Speedy

11-20-2006, 07:01 PM

Anyone have a different video link? My browser and OS can't play the link at tmz.com .

Tobias

11-20-2006, 07:03 PM

It's possible to both offend AND be funny at the same time. Too bad Richards doesn't know how to do that.

I'm using Sam Kinision as a reference since his name was mentioned in the report. He was an EXTREME homophobe (Keep in mind he was preacher before he turned to comedy) and never backed away from bashing the gay community in his acts, but most of the time, while it WAS extremely offensive, it was still funny because he admitted he was doing it all in jest and made sure people knew that he was only joking (for the most part).

Leaping Larry Jojo

11-20-2006, 07:05 PM

I'm not even sure if it was a bit Richards was trying to do. It seemed like a total meltdown to me.

langden alger

11-20-2006, 07:19 PM

imagine what a sitcom mel gibson and micheal richards could put together.

mr.happy

11-20-2006, 07:34 PM

Not that I condone that sort of behavior, but I have to admit there's something ballsy about taking on a heckler like that. :)

The real victim here is the guy who had to go on next. :p

Mr. Manager

11-20-2006, 07:44 PM

I thought Michael Richards died a few years ago.

But seriously, I saw the video and that is just awful. It was completely uncalled for and it was hard to watch. Man, he's a dick.

Anyone have a different video link? My browser and OS can't play the link at tmz.com .Here's a YouTube link. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=UomfLKQr57U)

Moto Pete

11-20-2006, 08:21 PM

that is so bad

on the eve of the Season 7 DVD

Zeonic Freak

11-20-2006, 08:42 PM

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

Man, i would hate for someone to say that to me, or anyone, that was pretty cold.

Yea, that is pretty painful... theres a difference between actors to comedians and comedians to actors...

Sage Shinigami

11-20-2006, 08:47 PM

I thought Michael Richards died a few years ago.

But seriously, I saw the video and that is just awful. It was completely uncalled for and it was hard to watch. Man, he's a dick.

Agreed. Especially that last sentence. Screw the heckling, man. You don't deal with heckling by being racist and talking about having black people upside down and stuff like that. There's a line even for comedians and he jumped about 30 feet past it.

David Lucas

11-20-2006, 09:23 PM

I'm sorry, but as offensive as I think this is, I laughed my ass off. Not because what he said was particularly funny, but just because I couldn't believe that was Kramer up there saying all that.

I really do feel for the cast of Seinfeld after it ended, but I mean, Jesus, you 4 were the highest paid sitcom actors, probably ever. Do they really need work these days? I mean everything I see Julie Louis-Dreyfus in, bombs, and bombs hard. Which sucks, because I used to think she was so hot as Elaine. Alexander, I think he's been in a few minor MINOR roles, but I haven't seen Richards do a THING.

But again, whats the problem with that? Why make crappy TV shows or stupid appearances? These four HAVE to be loaded, there's no way they went through THAT much money that fast.

mr.happy

11-20-2006, 09:45 PM

I mean everything I see Julie Louis-Dreyfus in, bombs, and bombs hard.I assume you haven't heard she has a successful sitcom on CBS?

Anyway, word on the street is that Kramer will make some sort of appearance on Letterman tonight, which already has Seinfeld booked. I can't wait to hear what he's going to call Dave. :)

Michael24

11-20-2006, 09:45 PM

It seems Julia Louis-Dreyfus has finally found success after Seinfeld with The New Adventures of Old Christine. It's done pretty well, ratingswise and criticwise, and she even won an Emmy just a little while ago. (Though personally, I think the show is actually pretty awful, but I'm glad to see her find success again because I really like her.)

And true, the four of them could likely never have to work again (or at least, for a very long time), but at the end of the day, they're all actors and I'm sure they just want to keep doing what they want to do. And sometimes actors find success in things that aren't on TV. I think Alexander has had some successful runs on Broadway in recent years. Personally, I think all four of the them are very talented, it's just the shows they've gotten since Seinfeld have been very bad.

As for the Michael Richards thing, I haven't seen the video, but I know from interviews and stuff I've seen with him that he doesn't really seem like the kind of guy who would do that day-to-day. I'm willing to bet he was heckled on an otherwise stressful day and just exploded. Not that I'm defending what he said, but we've all been caught on a bad day and have said/done something we later regret.

Sharklady

11-20-2006, 10:11 PM

> As for the Michael Richards thing, I haven't seen the video, but I know from interviews and stuff I've seen with him that he doesn't really seem like the kind of guy who would do that day-to-day. I'm willing to bet he was heckled on an otherwise stressful day and just exploded. Not that I'm defending what he said, but we've all been caught on a bad day and have said/done something we later regret. <

That is a feasible explaination, and I hope it's so.
Though, if it is, that makes the incident even more regrettable This one stupid blowup will be dogging Richards for the rest of his life.

TheMecca

11-20-2006, 10:46 PM

I've seen it....
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
I'm watching Letterman tonight.

Eidan

11-20-2006, 10:47 PM

Not that I condone that sort of behavior, but I have to admit there's something ballsy about taking on a heckler like that. :)
...yeah. Nothing ballsier than telling a black person that they'd be lynched 50 years ago. Truly daring comedy. :shrug:

I can't say I'm necessarily shocked ("White man spews out racial slurs?!"). Just very disappointed.

The Myst

11-20-2006, 10:51 PM

Tay the Cat

11-20-2006, 10:57 PM

He said today he had a nervous breakdown on stage. He didn't mean to do it, it just came out and he lost it.

mr.happy

11-20-2006, 11:00 PM

...yeah. Nothing ballsier than telling a black person that they'd be lynched 50 years ago. Truly daring comedy. :shrug:I didn't say it was comedy, but it was clearly an extremely effective comeback against an ass who himself had set out to frustrate and irritate a guy who was just doing his job. Like I said, Richards just turned the tables and raised the stakes.

He's not saying he hates all people of that ethnicity or condoning bad things happening to all people of that ethnicity. The word itself has just become so demonized to the point of ridiculousness.Exactly. Many black people use the term themselves, but play the victim when it's used against them, and in the process they allow the word to become an effective weapon against them, when it's really in their power to completely disarm it.

He said today he had a nervous breakdown on stage. He didn't mean to do it, it just came out and he lost it.Hah, it least he didn't blame alcohol and a traumatic childhood event :)

okendri

11-20-2006, 11:26 PM

Notice the double standard. It's horrible that he used a racial slur against them but the fact that they called him a cracker is ok. Not that cracker is as bad a word as the other one but it seems like everybody's overlooking the racism on both parts. And for what it's worth, it's not even racist. He's using it as an insult towards them personally. He's not saying he hates all people of that ethnicity or condoning bad things happening to all people of that ethnicity. The word itself has just become so demonized to the point of ridiculousness.
What double standard are you talking about? There is nothing from the information floating around about this incident to indicate that one of the audience members used a racial slur towards Richards. He took it down that path. You can't place blame on the members of audience for replying back with the same type of venom. Being heckled is just one part of the job for a comedian. Many comedians come up with better attacks on hecklers than just some base personal attacks. I find it funny that you solely focus on only just that one word when he made statements that just adds up to him espousing racist views. His statements still come off as racist no matter how you want to spin it.h

Just because certain members use the word as a term of endearment doesn't give anyone the right to freely use the word. The reason the word is so demonized is the weight attached to it. Other groups have words that have the same effect as the word Richards used.

ElBarto

11-20-2006, 11:30 PM

That video was really horrible.

DR.MID-NITE

11-20-2006, 11:32 PM

Not sure. But, I heard it was either Richards or Larry David who are holding up any dvd release of the tv show "Friday's". Their was some funny stuff on the show. :(

Zeonic Freak

11-21-2006, 12:04 AM

But again, whats the problem with that? Why make crappy TV shows or stupid appearances? These four HAVE to be loaded, there's no way they went through THAT much money that fast.

I also heard that Jerry Seinfield made like 2 million in '03 from just reruns/dvds... so yea, all of them are set.

But you dont see Neuman do much, other than Jurrasic Park

http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9611/19/wayne.knight/link.jurassic.jpg

Caption: "hey, im not lost..."

Eidan

11-21-2006, 12:10 AM

Notice the double standard. It's horrible that he used a racial slur against them but the fact that they called him a cracker is ok.

Richards repeatedly called them the n-word on stage, and one guy while leaving called him a "cracker". It's a bad thing, of course, but there's a clear difference as to what is truly the "story" here.

And I don't mean to come off as rude...but how the **** is it not racist? He called them a racial slur. Told them that fifty years ago they'd be LYNCHED. If that's not racism, what leaps and bounds must a person take short of murder to be considered racist?

mr. happy: "Turning the tables and raising the stakes"? Are you out of your mind? There's a difference between a "you suck" from a heckler, and "There's a ******, he's a ******! Don't interrupt the white man!" I'm actually surprised people are defending him.

Nin-Nin69

11-21-2006, 12:12 AM

We were talking about this on SA all day and we don't hate Michael Richards. It was just a bad PR move on his part.

David Cross once got in trouble for using the "n word" at a stand up show, but it was completely in context with his argument. David was making fun of ignorant racism and if he had used another word then the joke would have been weak and it would've had no meaning. The smartest people in the auidence got the joke and the dumbest people didn't.

In this situation Richards is just screaming the "n word" in an offensive context. He's saying it with such hatred and contempt and does not let up. He doesn't say "aw I'm just joking" or "I'm sorry guys." He just repeats it over and over and then leaves the stage.

Yet at first I believe he was just trying to go for the Bill Hicks routine where he tears into those who make fun of him while he preforms. People who do stand up always have to put up with some stupid auidence members and they have to come up with something that will shut them off. Bill Hicks was known for doing stuff like this all the time and did a fantastic job of it to keep his auidence in line. Other people like Lewis Black, George Carlin, Andrew Dice Clay, and even the OG of heckler bashing Lenny Bruce all have gone down this road.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/Nin-Nin69/hicksdance.gif

Yet back in Lenny Bruce's time (the 1960's) when he would drop the "n word" people would stop and stared horror giving him plenty of time to finish the bit and make his point. In 2006 people don't give a damn anymore and want to bite you on the throat for anything you say out of line. Richards was posssibly trying to go for this at first to shut the hecklers up, but it backfired against him and he just went out of line from there. Someone with his expereince in comedy should know when to stop and try to come up with some material ahead of time to shoot down anyone that tries to destroy your show.

I'm not angry at Richards since this isn't the first time this has happened to comedians, but I'm just saying it was a bad PR stunt on his part. I doubt he is a racist since he's Jewish and must've put up with plenty of Antisemitism comments in his lifetime. He just needs to rethink his standup act before returning to stage.

Eidan

11-21-2006, 12:14 AM

Bad PR stunt?

He got angry. Where is this garbage about a "PR stunt" coming from?

Supernovametalstar

11-21-2006, 12:16 AM

Notice the double standard. It's horrible that he used a racial slur against them but the fact that they called him a cracker is ok. Not that cracker is as bad a word as the other one but it seems like everybody's overlooking the racism on both parts. And for what it's worth, it's not even racist. He's using it as an insult towards them personally. He's not saying he hates all people of that ethnicity or condoning bad things happening to all people of that ethnicity. The word itself has just become so demonized to the point of ridiculousness.

Don't give me that load of bull. A white man being called a cracker by a black man is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT that a white man calling a black man that word. The n word has a connotation of violence that has built up for centuries. So much so, that people from other countries use it toward blacks in america. I don't care if "black people use it all the time with each other", it still isn't right and that still doesn't give a white man an excuse to say it to another black person. Especially with the other comments Richards made with it, there is no way you can't tell he's had racist teaching before. I mean, who says stuff about being lynched 50 years ago and being so rich he could have you arrested if he didn't really mean it.

I've been in a room where a white man used that word in my presence. Someone patted my arm and said "he wasn't talking about you, he was just quoting Dave Chappelle." Well I didn't except that excuse. Hell yeah there's a double standard and it won't change for a very long time, if ever. At least not in my lifetime. If you're not black, then you will never know what it's like so you will never understand this point.

The Landstander

11-21-2006, 12:16 AM

Avoiding the argument over the issue itself, he just did a (suprisingly informal and honest) apology on Letterman's show. I'm sure it'll be on YouTube in an hour (if it isn't already).

He seemed legitimately broken up and sorry over all of it; it's suprising to see damage control done so quickly and unprepared given all the press this got. He also got some laughter from the crowd at the beginning, because...well, yeah.

Take that how you will.

Nin-Nin69

11-21-2006, 12:22 AM

Bad PR stunt?

He got angry. Where is this garbage about a "PR stunt" coming from?
He hasn't been heard about for over a year now and possibly wanted to do something that would shock people and put them in awe. So he started throwing out the "n word" to people that were disrupting his act. Of course they didn't take into fact that this is a stand up act and kept attacking him because again auidences in the present day are more agressive towards people doing stand up than about two decades ago. Unfortunally for the auidence, Richards can't adlib very well and rode on that word for far too long without some real comeback to get everyone laughing again.

The Landstander

11-21-2006, 12:24 AM

So he started throwing out the "n word" to people that were disrupting his act. Of course they didn't take into fact that this is a stand up act and kept attacking him because again auidences in the present day are more agressive towards people doing stand up than about two decades ago. What? I don't think that's it at all. There was legitimate rage and lack of control in the video, he was legitimately broken up on Letterman's show, and his act has always been a lot of improv and adlibbing (heck, he's known for it I believe).

I sincerely, sincerely doubt this was planned in any form.

Nin-Nin69

11-21-2006, 12:27 AM

What? I don't think that's it at all. There was legitimate rage and lack of control in the video, he was legitimately broken up on Letterman's show, and his act has always been a lot of improv and adlibbing (heck, he's known for it I believe).

I sincerely, sincerely doubt this was planned in any form.

Of course he didn't plan it. This all came to him during those moments in the video. He did a bad job trying to put down those people because he kept throwing out the "n word" trying to shock them into another joke that could've got his act back on track. He lost control and got angrier instead of adlibing something that he could've made up ahead of time to keep the auidence quiet. Again it was unprofessional for him.

Eidan

11-21-2006, 12:29 AM

I think you're spinning this desparately to try to make Kramer not look like a closet Klansmen.

Nin-Nin69

11-21-2006, 12:33 AM

I think you're spinning this desparately to try to make Kramer not look like a closet Klansmen.

He's Jewish! How could a Jew be a Klansmen?

Tay the Cat

11-21-2006, 12:33 AM

I think you're spinning this desparately to try to make Kramer not look like a closet Klansmen.
And I think you're desperately trying to make this something it's not.

Eidan

11-21-2006, 12:39 AM

He's Jewish! How could a Jew be a Klansmen?

I used the term "Klansmen" just as a general term for a racist.

And yeah...how could I possibly come to the conclusion that Richards got angry on stage, and spewed out violent, racial slurs simply because they were the easiest thing to say to hurt a black person? I guess I'm just being unfair to the man who said those men should've been lynched. How heartless of me.

RD!

11-21-2006, 12:39 AM

I think you're spinning this desparately to try to make Kramer not look like a closet Klansmen.
There's a pretty interesting line of thought that goes into these situations; man insults someone of race or religion--we insult him (relentlessly) for this as if calling someone a racist itself was not insulting and wrong.

ps: I am not saying he was right in what he said, I'm really just calling you a turd.
pps: if your intent is to offend someone it is best to go with something offensive. If I am trying to piss off a black person I am not going to rant about bumble bees.
ppps: unless they HATE bumble bees.

Eidan

11-21-2006, 12:45 AM

...I don't exactly understand what you're saying. Care to rephrase that?

Also, Richards already admitted during the Letterman apology that it was an angry outburst. No elaborate PR stunts gone bad.

RD!

11-21-2006, 12:49 AM

I'm saying your opinions on this matter are hilarious.

Nin-Nin69

11-21-2006, 12:49 AM

And yeah...how could I possibly come to the conclusion that Richards got angry on stage, and spewed out violent, racial slurs simply because they were the easiest thing to say to hurt a black person? I guess I'm just being unfair to the man who said those men should've been lynched. How heartless of me.
Maybe you should hear some of Bill Hicks reactions to his auidence at his 89' show in Chicago to understand what Richards could've been going for before he got way out of line. I'd link them here, but his actions are too crazy for TZ. I've already shown you an image of him running on stage in my previous post.

The Myst

11-21-2006, 12:50 AM

Are you talking about the moment where Hicks told the audience that Hitler had the right idea but he was an underachiever and that we should kill them all, Jewish, black, white, Hispanic?

Tay the Cat

11-21-2006, 12:51 AM

Here's some food for thought.

The same people who are bashing Richards are the same people who loved Borat.

Nin-Nin69

11-21-2006, 12:53 AM

Are you talking about the moment where Hicks told the audience that Hitler had the right idea but he was an underachiever and that we should kill them all, Jewish, black, white, Hispanic?
Yes that part and him screaming at the drunk woman.

Here's some food for thought.

The same people who are bashing Richards are the same people who loved Borat.

Haha that is very true.

tb4000

11-21-2006, 12:54 AM

Here's some food for thought.

The same people who are bashing Richards are the same people who loved Borat.

Borat was done with the intent to showcase how ignorant others are. Richards just showcased how ignorant he is. And the latter was done with malcious intent, as opposed to Sacha Baron Cohen.

Eidan

11-21-2006, 12:55 AM

I'm saying your opinions on this matter are hilarious.

Haha, what can I say. I was offended.

RD!

11-21-2006, 12:57 AM

Haha, what can I say. I was offended.
So was Richards.

QED.

Eidan

11-21-2006, 01:00 AM

I hope you're not trying to justify what he did.

Tay the Cat

11-21-2006, 01:04 AM

I hope you're not trying to justify what he did.

Nobody is.

We're just trying to get it through people's heads that he's not a racist.

Lenny Bruce did worse and he meant every word he said, and people loved him.

tb4000

11-21-2006, 01:05 AM

Next time someone says to me, "there's no such thing as racism, it doesn't exist anymore", I'm going to do the Kramer gesture.

RD!

11-21-2006, 01:05 AM

I hope you're not trying to justify what he did.
I'm saying your own ignor--forget it. Hey guys let's watch the smash show Mind of Mencia.

Nin-Nin69

11-21-2006, 01:07 AM

I'm saying your own ignor--forget it. Hey guys let's watch the smash show Mind of Mencia.

lol do people really like him?

Eidan

11-21-2006, 01:12 AM

Nobody is.

We're just trying to get it through people's heads that he's not a racist.

Why are you so confident he isn't racist?

Strawberry Jam: I've stated my opinion on the matter, and you've been insulting me since you started participating in the thread. ****ing cool it. If you disagree, just say it. No reason to try and call me ignorant simply because I feel that saying racist things with the intent to hurt is a great sign that someone might be racist.

The Myst

11-21-2006, 01:14 AM

Next time someone says to me, "there's no such thing as racism, it doesn't exist anymore", I'm going to do the Kramer gesture.

Richards is not a racist. The use of a racial slur does not make you a racist. A racist is somebody that hates all people of an ethnicity. We have no evidence to suggest Richards feels that way.

The Myst

11-21-2006, 01:15 AM

Why are you so confident he isn't racist?

Strawberry Jam: I've stated my opinion on the matter, and you've been insulting me since you started participating in the thread. ****ing cool it. If you disagree, just say it. No reason to try and call me ignorant simply because I feel that saying racist things with the intent to hurt is a great sign that someone might be racist.

If you want to insult a black person, the word is fairly effective. Calling them a dumb jerk isn't up to par.

Supernovametalstar

11-21-2006, 01:17 AM

Richards is not a racist. The use of a racial slur does not make you a racist. A racist is somebody that hates all people of an ethnicity. We have no evidence to suggest Richards feels that way.

I contend that any white person that uses those words and those actions towards a black person has those tendancies. As they say, actions speak louder than words.

Eidan

11-21-2006, 01:20 AM

Scythemantis

11-21-2006, 01:47 AM

Meh, if I get angry at a Hispanic or Asian person, a racial slur isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Seems like something someone who harbors...prejudices would do.

But what do I know? I'm not white. Maybe it's common for some whites to hold slurs in the back of their head to use in case a minority pisses them off. It doesn't make them racist. It just makes them...white?

Gee, thanks for the blanket statement about "whites". Eidan. Do you know how narrow your world view sounds?

For your information, "holding slurs in the back of your head" is common, everyday behavior for people of all backgrounds, and I thought everybody knew that. It's completely normal and human to blurt out that kind of stuff in a heated moment of annoyance, especially during a bout of road-rage. It has nothing to do with being racist. The default verbal anger response for ordinary people is just to fish for the most hurtful thing they can find and throw it out there. An everyday thing. You're just weird and far too nice, obviously.

In all honesty, a lot of the posts in this thread are sounding so smug and so holier-than-thou that I'd like to show some of you guys a similar tirade of my own, just for laughs.

The media totally neglects to mention that the guy Richards flipped out on had been heckling him with "white boy" and "cracka" for the entire act, and I think it's despicable how they're taking this out of context. I would have said more hurtful, hateful things if it were me; I have positively zero tolerance for being interrupted when I'm talking, and I think the heckler deserved to be offended. Everyone in the audience who allowed themselves to be offended in the crossfire are just morons.

Can't people just get over themselves and grow a backbone against this kind of thing?

FireStarterLE

11-21-2006, 01:49 AM

I used the term "Klansmen" just as a general term for a racist.

dumb move on your behalf, calling someone a member of the Ku Klux Klan and just passing it off "as a general term for a racist" ...???

Why are you so confident he isn't racist?
and why are you trying to pass him off as one? Well sure he gets up on stage week in and week out saying this stuff over and over again and we've heard his stand-up routine so many times we can go ahead and just judge away :shrug:

he said what he said, he's said his apology (god knows that wont be enough "we do not forgive Mr. Richards until he comes to each and every person there and face to face apologizes ... oh yeah and donates $10,000 to ______") It's just a shame that the news will want to carry this out for as long as they can

For your information, "holding slurs in the back of your head" is common, everyday behavior for people of all backgrounds, and I thought everybody knew that.
Not unless some can get cut off in traffic or almost hit and say "well gosh, you really just need to be watching the road more closely. That near hit would have not been pretty at all no sir"

Nin-Nin69

11-21-2006, 01:56 AM

Can't people just get over themselves and grow a backbone against this kind of thing?
I wish people could, but with each passing generation people find more reasons to start a lawsuit or put you on a form of medication for something everyone has. I don't tolerate real racism against people, but some people take it too far or don't understand the situation and play the race card to their advantage.

I forget how long ago this was, but Chris Rock's mother was trying to sue Cracker Barrel for making her wait about 30 minutes to serve her while throwing the race card. The manager yelled at one of the waiters in the back room, said he was sorry, and offered her a free meal which wasn't good enough for her. The mother of Chris Rock wasn't going to stand for being treated like everyone else. She even got Al Sharpton involved with this too. No more than 24 hours of this report it was confirmed by a person that use to work at that location a while back that during the hour that she went there they switch waiters. So nobody at that time period knew she wasn't being served. Does this make the people who work there all racist?

People need to take it easy and have a sense of humor. Richards was trying to make a funny pun to shock his hecklers and comeback to his act, but couldn't pull it off. The man went too far and it was very unprofessional for him. Yet I'm not going to hate the man or call him something as harsh or neglectful as a Klansmen. I loved everything he's done so far with his career up until this point. You shouldn't hate someone completly for one or two bad moves they pull. You have to find something even deeper and darker about them that could change your personality. And if you liked them before, you shouldn't change your thoughts on what you liked that they made beforehand. I loved Tom Cruise in Top Gun before he became a Scientologist. Heck I can still watch Naked Gun and laugh at OJ's antics because he never had the audacity to kill anyone when that movie was made.

Eidan

11-21-2006, 02:04 AM

Supernovametalstar

11-21-2006, 02:08 AM

In all honesty, a lot of the posts in this thread are sounding so smug and so holier-than-thou that I'd like to show some of you guys a similar tirade of my own, just for laughs.

The media totally neglects to mention that the guy Richards flipped out on had been heckling him with "white boy" and "cracka" for the entire act, and I think it's despicable how they're taking this out of context. I would have said more hurtful, hateful things if it were me; I have positively zero tolerance for being interrupted when I'm talking, and I think the heckler deserved to be offended. Everyone in the audience who allowed themselves to be offended in the crossfire are just morons.

Can't people just get over themselves and grow a backbone against this kind of thing?

There is nothing more hateful and hurtful to a black person than being called that word by a white man. Some people can take it in stride, some cannot. But no one deserves to be called a racial slur if they're acting like a jerk. I'm not defending the hecklers for their actions before the tirade, however heckling at a comedy club is common. If Richards really did have a problem with it then he should have A) insulted them in a better manner like making fun of their clothes or the people they were with or something or B) had security remove them from the club or C) ignored them. That simple.

Scythemantis

11-21-2006, 02:20 AM

I've always thought that when someone is a jerk, all bets are completely off. They only learn if you get them back worse.

The very idea of just harboring hateful slurs in the back of your mind for the sole purpose of pissing someone off not being considered racist is just...odd to me.

Wtf? But that's the whole entire POINT...saying something just to piss someone off has nothing to do with racism. Racism is what you believe about an entire group. They're entirely seperate things.

Nin-Nin69

11-21-2006, 02:27 AM

My "blanket comment" about whites was meant to sound ridiculous. Because I think it's ridiculous to just say, "Hey, he was talking to black guys. OF COURSE he's going to call them *******! That's not racism!" The very idea of just harboring hateful slurs in the back of your mind for the sole purpose of pissing someone off not being considered racist is just...odd to me.

But hey, maybe I am just too nice.
Richards is absolutely not a racist.

1) He's is Jewish. Jews have to put up with a lot of racist comments.
2) He has a crazy gay son who happened to move into my hometown less than an year ago and met my mother. He wanted to make a public access show at the TV station she works at and he moved on from the idea after a couple of meeting with her. I doubt he'd still have a crazy gay son if he was a racist or a Klansmen.
3) Have you ever seen the classic show, Fridays? Guess who's chilling out with the black guy in the logo?

http://www.tvparty.com/bgifs6/fridays1head.jpg

You should look up Fridays BTW for a classic moment between Andy Kaufman and Richards where they fake out the auidence by starting a fight.

edit: found the clip http://youtube.com/watch?v=a1wip6a2fMQ

edit 2: I made a mistake about his son. It was Larry David's son that my mother met.

tb4000

11-21-2006, 09:48 AM

When someone punches you, you punch back. You don't take out a gun and shoot them. Richards pulled out a gun.

Dark Fact

11-21-2006, 10:41 AM

If Chris Rock would've been the one on stage instead of Richards, it wouldn't be that big of a deal, would it?

What about Seth McFarlane?

When someone punches you, you punch back. You don't take out a gun and shoot them. Richards pulled out a gun.
You punch back if you've got a good reason to.

tb4000

11-21-2006, 10:45 AM

If Chris Rock would've been the one on stage instead of Richards, it wouldn't be that big of a deal, would it?

What about Seth McFarlane?

You punch back if you've got a good reason to.

People are mistaking comics that are known for being politically incorrect with comics that aren't. Richards never uses that type of shtick in his humor, ever. If MacFarlane said something similar, yes I would laugh, because I know what he's about, and he does everything tongue in cheek.

JohnCrichton

11-21-2006, 10:56 AM

He apologies... (http://angryzenmaster.com/2006/11/21/kramer-apologizes/)

PeterFries

11-21-2006, 11:12 AM

Wow, what a depressing thread. Nothing like a racist comment to bring out the ugly in posters. File this under "things you wish you hadn't read attached to names you see on here all the time". :(

JohnCrichton

11-21-2006, 11:29 AM

There is nothing more hateful and hurtful to a black person than being called that word by a white man. Some people can take it in stride, some cannot. But no one deserves to be called a racial slur if they're acting like a jerk. I'm not defending the hecklers for their actions before the tirade, however heckling at a comedy club is common. If Richards really did have a problem with it then he should have A) insulted them in a better manner like making fun of their clothes or the people they were with or something or B) had security remove them from the club or C) ignored them. That simple.

Quoted because he's right.

Even Michael Richards agrees. (http://angryzenmaster.com/2006/11/21/kramer-apologizes/)

If you're a mature adult and someone punches you, you do not punch back. You find the best way to end the conflict. Richards had those options and he chose the worst out of anger.

If he was being offensively heckled, then have them escorted out. Being just as bad or worse doesn't make it right. Makes you just as wrong.

Eidan

11-21-2006, 11:44 AM

I've always thought that when someone is a jerk, all bets are completely off. They only learn if you get them back worse.

Wtf? But that's the whole entire POINT...saying something just to piss someone off has nothing to do with racism. Racism is what you believe about an entire group. They're entirely seperate things.
I possibly would've given this to you if he had let the n-bomb slip possibly once or twice in his anger. But that tirade? "50 years ago you would've been hung upside down with a fork stuck up your ass." Nah, it's racist. Fairly simple. And if you're the person the type of person who would use a racial slur anytime a minority upsets you then...heh, that's disappointing.

And who cares if Richards is standing next to a ******* black guy in the promotional photo for Fridays? Do you honestly think that matters? Robert Byrd had his arm around a black boy in his West Virginia ads, does that completely negate that he was once a card carrying member of the Ku Klux Klan, and openly spoke against fighting alongside blacks in the military? Mel Gibson is a Hollywood actor who has worked alonside numerous Jewish people in his career. Would anyone deny that Gibson harbors some anti-semetic sentiments? I never heard anything as ridiculous as "He doesn't hate black people. He's touching one in this photo? See?!"