http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-raci...caught-on-tape/

Personally I think that if I were in the audience I would have walked out also. I definitely have a totally
different view of Michael Richards after watching this clip. I didn't get to see his apology last night on Letterman but this could be a career killer for him.

I thought his career was already dead.

What career? As a blip each week on that pointless show?

Whoa! Watch the anti-Seinfeld cracks. It's near and dear to me.

He "apologized" on Letterman and in the article on Fox, Paul Rodriguez had this to say:

"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.


WTF? So only black people get to use the N word?

Don't get me wrong, Richards crossed the line and I don't care what he says, you don't go off like that without feeling those things somewhere inside you. Either the word is acceptable or it isn't. It should matter who says it.

Wow, I have woken up regretting saying something but nothing close to this man's public melt down. He seemed totally removed from the reality of performing in public. I would of felt uncomfortable witnessing his disturbing & hateful digression. To respond to the audience in that way, seems really odd as a performer. Talk about self-destructing.

If I was in the audience, I would of left quickly. Who would want to pay for a ticket to that. Bummer, for those wanting a fun night out.

everyone did leave , the owner gave everyones money back to, in my opinion most think it but has the brains not to say it , thats with white and black,

The guy acted impaired -- drugs maybe? Maybe like Mel Gibson, the booze or drugs reduced his sense till he spewed his crap.

Sounded like he was under the influence. Refreshing that he at least did not go into rehab right away and put off a public statement for two or three months. I think two politians have gone that route this past year. Anyway, making an apology right off the bat was good but does not minimize his impulsive outburts. His words were so caustic and so removed from a comedy bit.

Have no idea what he is about or where he wants to go from here. He was leading an obsure life, off the radar since Seinfeld. Never watched that show, so that cast is not well known to me. Guess that is why it was shocking to hear him going off during a stab making a comeback or new career as a stand-up. It was a weird approach to launching a new career as a stand-up comedian. (???)

Agree, he must of been under the influence of something. Guess a career in entertainment is over for him. Never really knew too much about him, except he had been on Seinfeld.

They have a huge thread on this at Prince.org. Another opinion expressed there, which makes sense to me, is that Richards was simply heckled to the point where he was deeply hurt and embarrassed and wanted to hurt the hecklers back and they happened to be black. Their point was that maybe he wasn't being racist but was intending to be as hurtful as possible and to dig in that soft spot, Richards went with what was easiest - the "n" word and the stringing them upside down crap.

Not to dismiss/justify/allow the comments. What he said was wrong and hurtful and uncalled for. But is he racist? Or was he backed into a corner and lashed out inappropriatley? The same could be applied to other things besides race. If the hecklers were gay, he would have called them faggots. If the hecklers were women, he would have called them whores. If the hecklers were missing a leg he would have called them one-legged freak shows or whatnot.

This isn't my opinion. Like I said, I read a big thread about it and the point made sense to me, but I never watched Seinfeld and don't really know this character, Richards.

Having said all that, I hate the "n" word.

I do think this is what happened. Richards is not and was never a stand up comedian. He was more of a sketch or physical comedy actor. They interviewed some comedians and all of them said that richards not being a standup comedian probably contributed to his outburst. Most of them said that after doing this for years they all knew how to handle hecklers and even incorporate that into their routines if the situation arose. i think he hasn't had anything going on lately and figured he'd try to do standup and was just caught off guard and didn't know how to handle it. that said i don't think he'll have to worry about a standup career anymore.

I don't know. Like I said before, I'm not familiar with him. I never thought Seinfeld was funny. But yeah, seems like it should be a debilitating blow to his career in entertainment.

Let's see what happens with Mel Gibson though. Let's see how Apocalypto gets treated. That may be an indication of how Richards will be handled.

Just as shameful as making the outburst was Richards' appearance on Jesse Jackson's radio show over the weekend. The man groveled and pandered to Jackson, who was his normal race-baiting, sanctimonious self. How quickly the Reverend forgets his "Himeytown" comment.

I'm not buying the "lashing out" reasoning for Richards' actions. I've been insulted and even assaulted by minorities in my life and racial slurs never popped into my mind or out of my mouth in those stressful situations. The word is either in your vocabulary or it's not.

Read the new issue of ESQUIRE-- much food for thought.

Is this the story you're talking about, LOOKY?

Very interesting story. Good thing a black guy wrote it or it is all we'd hear about for 3 weeks, another black-hating whitey.

Jesse Jackson is a sleezy slimeball. Period.

Fascinating article. Well worth the read

YEP