Richards -- "I'm Really Busted Up"

[BENDIS!]

Richards -- "I'm Really Busted Up"
Posted Nov 20th 2006 8:05PM by TMZ Staff
Filed under: Train Wrecks

Michael Richards publicly apologized for his racist tirade in an appearance on "The Late Show," but acknowledged that such sentiment had the potential to "come[s] through and fire[s] out of me." He tried to find an awkward parallel between his ugly rant and conflict that has arisen between blacks and whites since Hurricane Katrina.

Looking sallow, drawn, and speaking in halting fragments, Richards explained via satellite from Los Angeles to David Letterman and friend Jerry Seinfeld in New York, that he had lost his temper after some members of the audience interrupted his act and that he "took it badly," unleashing the racist invective that TMZ first aired this morning. He apologized to the people who took "the brunt" of his abuse, saying he was "really busted up," but then went on a strange tangent on race relations, saying he was "concerned about hate and rage" and about a "great deal of disturbance between blacks and whites" after Hurricane Katrina.

Richards did not say whether any other factors contributed to his actions, adding only that he would be doing "personal work" in the aftermath of the incident.

Audience members in the Ed Sullivan Theater, who were watching Richards on a screen, began laughing at Richards at first, thinking that the interview was a comedy skit, until Seinfeld admonished them, saying, "Stop laughing. It's not funny."

[Ryan Elliott]

*walks into thread in a humorous fashion*

[sto110]

this is waht i want to see

until Seinfeld admonished them, saying, "Stop laughing. It's not funny."

[TheTravis!]

Wow.

[Matt O'Keefe]

Is it just me or is everyone apologizing for something.

My guess: 98% of American celebrities will have gone on a racist tirade by June.

[Ryan Elliott]

Is it just me or is everyone apologizing for something.

My guess: 98% of American celebrities will have gone on a racist tirade by June.



Will the other two percent be adopting babies in Africa?

[Jerome Gibbons]

Tsk. Ah, too bad, Kramer.

[stevapalooza]

Screw you Kramer! You're worse than Hitler!!

[Criden]

Will the other two percent be adopting babies in Africa?

:rofl:

[batmanbooyah]

Screw you Kramer! You're worse than Hitler!!



ZEIG HEIL!....er.....NEWMAN!

[PeterSparker]

[/sorry, I used all my best material in the other thread]

[Brian Defferding]

Oh, man. I don't know what's going to happen to him. It's like a nightmare. I'm still deciding if he just lost his cool or is actually racist (one could easily argue one way or the other) but I would not be surprised if he doesn't ever recover from this. At ALL.

[BriRedfern]

I am stuck between watching Battlestar Galactica and watching this. Might have to go watch Lettermen upstairs while Tivo does its thing...

[NickT]

this is waht i want to see

until Seinfeld admonished them, saying, "Stop laughing. It's not funny."
You know what'd be better? If he had said "what is the deal with you laughing?" :)

[Jerome Gibbons]

You know what'd be better? If he had said "what is the deal with you laughing?" :)
Heh.

[PeterSparker]

Well, I'm definitely gonna watch Letterman tonight. So at least a large, souless, corperate commercial television network is gonna get a ratings bump. Thankfully some good is coming from this ugliness.

[BriRedfern]

Well, I'm definitely gonna watch Letterman tonight. So at least a large, souless, corperate commercial television network is gonna get a ratings bump. Thankfully some good is coming from this ugliness.

Amen Brotha. And I mean that in a totally non-racist way.

Fucking Clown. 50 years ago we would have hung you upside down and shoved your rubber nose up your ass.

:mistrust:

[PeterSparker]

Amen Brotha. And I mean that in a totally non-racist way.

Fucking Clown. 50 years ago we would have hung you upside down and shoved your rubber nose up your ass.

:mistrust:


Another anti-clownite rears his ugly head.



[inner monolouge]"You've got a long way to go America, *sniff* a long way to go... "[/inner monolouge]

[tdaniel]

god awful. watching his hatred spill out on that video. yeah, I watched it. that dude has some serious self loathing and he found a target and his mouth started shooting. he's done professionally.

[King of Mars]

Richards -- "I'm Really Busted Up"
Posted Nov 20th 2006 8:05PM by TMZ Staff
Filed under: Train Wrecks


Audience members in the Ed Sullivan Theater, who were watching Richards on a screen, began laughing at Richards at first, thinking that the interview was a comedy skit, until Seinfeld admonished them, saying, "Stop laughing. It's not funny."Gotta love how an audience that's there expecting to be entertained gets chastised for not being astute enough to realize it's time to nurse a disgraced celebrity through his mental breakdown.

Sheesh.

:roll:

[Ryan Elliott]

If he takes responsibility for his actions and doesn't blame it on drugs or alcohol or anything like that, then he's already getting a good step forward.

[PeterSparker]

Anyone watching this freak show on Letterman?



and poor Jerry, he was booked for this to promote the release of Seinfeld Season 7 ...sheesh

[Fake Pat]

wow. i actually kinda feel bad for him now.

i think he might literally be insane.

[PeterSparker]

wow. i actually kinda feel bad for him now.

i think he might literally be insane.


You mean you have some doubt?

:shock:

[Fake Pat]

You mean you have some doubt?

about .000001%

[Ryan Elliott]

I'm glad he didn't blame something else like Mel did.


And that he even tried to apologize to those people he said those things to personally.

[Ben]

I saw the video of the Laugh Factory incident, and I don't really understand what the big deal is. I don't think many people have actually been to a stand-up comedy show or understand what can go on there.

[HCMarvel]

Yeah...Richards seemed completely deranged. he said some things that made sense and sounded like the right things to say, and other things that seemed to say he had no idea what people are really mad about.

freaking out on stage...no one cares when someone does that.

saying the "N" word is the bad thing...he only kind of adressed that.

[The Stig]

What were the racist comments that he made?

[HCMarvel]

I saw the video of the Laugh Factory incident, and I don't really understand what the big deal is. I don't think many people have actually been to a stand-up comedy show or understand what can go on there.


uh...

what?


Did you watch some version of the video in which every use of the "N" word was replaced with idiot or something?

The big deal is the racist remarks he made.

[HCMarvel]

What were the racist comments that he made?

he called some black heckler's the "N" word. and said that 50 years ago they'd be upside down with a fork up their ass. and that "that's what you get when you mess with the white man."

[Greenville 90210]

[/sorry, I used all my best material in the other thread]

You still got it!

[PeterSparker]

Jerry is such a pro, he totally sailed through the rest of the interview after that time-out from planet straight-jacket.

[Greenville 90210]

he called some black heckler's the "N" word. and said that 50 years ago they'd be upside down with a fork up their ass. and that "that's what you get when you mess with the white man."

I didn't hear the "that's what you get..." line.

Did he say whites were superior to blacks? Cause that's a dead giveaway that someone might be racist.

[PeterSparker]

You still got it!

my one fan! woo hoo!

[Ryan Elliott]

I didn't hear the "that's what you get..." line.

Did he say whites were superior to blacks? Cause that's a dead giveaway that someone might be racist.



Not from what I've read.

[Ben]

he called some black heckler's the "N" word. and said that 50 years ago they'd be upside down with a fork up their ass. and that "that's what you get when you mess with the white man."Ummm... he's a.... a comedian. A COMEDIAN! He's supposed to say crazy shit.

[Ben]

uh...

what?


Did you watch some version of the video in which every use of the "N" word was replaced with idiot or something?

The big deal is the racist remarks he made.He's a comedian.

[Fake Pat]

Ummm... he's a.... a comedian. A COMEDIAN! He's supposed to say crazy shit.

this has got to be some sort of elaborate joke.

no fucking WAY you actually think that he didn't do anything wrong.

comedians are supposed to tell jokes. calling poeple "nigger" a bunch of times and talking about lynchings involving eating utensil sodomy is not a joke.

edit #2: i hope a lot of people are still awake tonight, cuz this thread is on the verge of blowing up.

[Greenville 90210]

He's a comedian.

Yeah...you know, usually 3/4 of the stuff you say I dismiss cause you're second funniest poster or something but you are right on with this.

People are overreacting and spilling white guilt all over the floor (and crying about it) over a shitty stand-up comedian.

[Ben]

Yeah...you know, usually 3/4 of the stuff you say I dismiss cause you're second funniest poster or something but you are right on with this.

People are overreacting and spilling white guilt all over the floor (and crying about it) over a shitty stand-up comedian.Thank you. I'm surprised so many people want to limit what comedians can and can't say based on what they personally find offensive. I don't think most of these people have actually been to do many stand-up shows. I've been to a lot. I've been to the touristy shows like at the Laugh Factory and I've been to the ones where the audience is mostly full of other comedians. Crazy shit gets said sometimes. Often it's really offensive, which can be part of the comedy. Many times it's just not funny. But he's not a racist. This isn't some horrible racist thing. He's a fucking comedian. He went off on a rant. Everyone needs to get the fuck over it.

[Greenville 90210]

Thank you. I'm surprised so many people want to limit what comedians can and can't say based on what they personally find offensive. I don't think most of these people have actually been to do many stand-up shows. I've been to a lot. I've been to the touristy shows like at the Laugh Factory and I've been to the ones where the audience is mostly full of other comedians. Crazy shit gets said sometimes. Often it's really offensive, which can be part of the comedy. Many times it's just not funny. But he's not a racist. This isn't some horrible racist thing. He's a fucking comedian. He went off on a rant. Everyone needs to get the fuck over it.

Yeah...I've seen similar rants from people I work with in my local comedy scene. Not funny. They don't really get laughs either...

[Fake Pat]

This isn't some horrible racist thing.

unreal. what exactly constitutes a "racist thing" then?

calling a black person a "nigger" to their face seems to pretty much meet any rational person's criteria.

[Fake Pat]

Yeah...I've seen similar rants from people I work with in my local comedy scene. Not funny. They don't really get laughs either...

probably because most people aren't big fans of blatant racism.

[Ryan Elliott]

unreal. what exactly constitutes a "racist thing" then?

calling a black person a "nigger" to their face seems to pretty much meet any rational person's criteria.



What about when black people do it to each other?

[Greenville 90210]

probably because most people aren't big fans of blatant racism.

Bah.

People aren't fans of shitty humor.

[Greenville 90210]

What about when black people do it to each other?

Carlos Mencia made a career off of being "racist". And he's not even black!

[HCMarvel]

i...you're serious.


this is amazing.


It wasn't a comedic rant, or off the cuff humor. It wasn't RAW. or something.

It was a comedian (yes he is a comedian, i will admit this) who was being heckled by two black men. Noting their skin color, this comedian went off the deep end and used words that contain no humor to insult them and try to shut them up.

This isn't something to dismiss as "well he's a comedian so whatever. things happen at a comedy club." This could have happened at the grocery market and it would be the same thing. in the scheme of things is this a big deal? NO. Its a washed up comedian doing something stupid. But to dismiss this as just something that happens at comedy shows is kind of disgusting. This kind of thing should never ever happen in society. who was saying it, or where he was saying it, means nothing

[Fake Pat]

What about when black people do it to each other?

if you honestly can't understand why there's a difference, then i honestly don't have the patience to explain it to you.

[Ben]

probably because most people aren't big fans of blatant racism.Stay away from live comedy. It will probably hurt you. Stick with your safe, televised comedies. I hear there's a new direct-to-video American Pie movie you might enjoy.

[Ryan Elliott]

if you honestly can't understand why there's a difference, then i honestly don't have the patience to explain it to you.



Or you just can't come up with an answer?

[Len Kody]

Question: do you think this will positively or negatively affect sales the season 7 dvd Jerry was promoting?

and who else thinks it's a set up?

[Ben]

I was in a club once and the comedian (he wasn't very funny and was looking for something to get a laugh) started picking on a guy in the front row. He was from Hungary, so the comedian starting making fun of everything about Hungary. Most of what he said was probably untrue, but it was pretty brutal. It wasn't that funny. Well, in a way it was because it was an unfunny end to a very unfunny set. But was it offensive and racist? Did he need to apologize to the guy? No... It was just bad comedy.

[Ben]

Question: do you think this will positively or negatively affect sales the season 7 dvd Jerry was promoting?

and who else thinks it's a set up?Think the rant's going to be an easter egg? Click on Kramer's hair on the menu screen...

[Fake Pat]

Stay away from live comedy. It will probably hurt you. Stick with your safe, televised comedies. I hear there's a new direct-to-video American Pie movie you might enjoy.

oh SNAP. you got me!

i didn't realize bill hicks and david cross and all the other great comedians i love were so safe and cuddly.

ben, please help me to be edgier. do you know of any comedians who recite "mein kaumpf" on stage?

[Foolish Mortal]

Gotta love how an audience that's there expecting to be entertained gets chastised for not being astute enough to realize it's time to nurse a disgraced celebrity through his mental breakdown.

Sheesh.

:roll:
No, the point was he trying to be serious, and the audience was acting like it was a comedy bit.

[Fake Pat]

Or you just can't come up with an answer?

just think about it for a few minutes. if you can't figure it out on your own, i'd never be able to convince you.

also, i don't remember saying i thought it was ok for black people to say it to each other.

[Ben]

oh SNAP. you got me!

i didn't realize bill hicks and david cross and all the other great comedians i love were so safe and cuddly.

ben, please help me to be edgier. do you know of any comedians who recite "mein kaumpf" on stage?Because Bill Hicks and David Cross never said anything offensive? They just never said anything that offended you.

[Ryan Elliott]

just think about it for a few minutes. if you can't figure it out on your own, i'd never be able to convince you.

also, i don't remember saying i thought it was ok for black people to say it to each other.



That's pretty much all I needed to here.

[Greenville 90210]

Stay away from live comedy. It will probably hurt you. Stick with your safe, televised comedies. I hear there's a new direct-to-video American Pie movie you might enjoy.

The safety net for any black comedian is alway:

Black people are like this. White people are like this.

(I'm not saying Richards is anything like this, I just wanted to point this out)

[HCMarvel]

i think there is a difference if it is part of an act and it is racist (which isn't good, and very often isn't funny) and if it is some wack-job losing his mind and calling black people the "n" word.

i see a huge difference between those two things

[Foolish Mortal]

What about when black people do it to each other?
*sigh* How many times do we have to explain this? When black people use the word 'nigga', it is NOT in the same context as a white racist uses it.

[Fake Pat]

Because Bill Hicks and David Cross never said anything offensive? They just never said anything that offended you.

shit. got me again. i forgot that i said earlier that cross/hicks never said anything offensive. oh, wait. guess i didn't. you claimed i enjoyed CBS-style comedy. i just wanted to let you know that was just one more thing you were wrong about tonight.

i'm not offended by what richards said. it just makes me think he's a racist piece of human garbage. i think this way because i use reason and logic to come to conclusions. what i am offended by is the attitude that if you're in a comedy club with a microphone you have the right to say whatever you want with no repercussions.

[Ryan Elliott]

*sigh* How many times do we have to explain this? When black people use the word 'nigga', it is NOT in the same context as a white racist uses it.



So if I say it like that, with the "a" on that end instead of "er" as a term of indearment to a black person, they WON'T beat my ass?



Doesn't matter how you say it or WHO says it, it's still wrong.

[Ben]

The safety net for any black comedian is alway:

Black people are like this. White people are like this.

(I'm not saying Richards is anything like this, I just wanted to point this out)When I lived with my former roommate, he used to set his TIVO to tape any stand-up comedy show that was on. Everytime it was a black comedian, we'd count the number of jokes it would take for a black/white person comparison. We NEVER counted more than 5 jokes before they went there. The jokes were usually amusing, so I have no problem with it. It was just funny how predictable it was. White guys would rarely talk about race, though Jews usually brought up their Jewness sometime during the show.

[Ben]

shit. got me again. i forgot that i said earlier that cross/hicks never said anything offensive. oh, wait. guess i didn't. you claimed i enjoyed CBS-style comedy. i just wanted to let you know that was just one more thing you were wrong about tonight.How could I be wrong about it when I used a question mark?

[Ben]

i'm not offended by what richards said. it just makes me think he's a racist piece of human garbage. i think this way because i use reason and logic to come to conclusions. what i am offended by is the attitude that if you're in a comedy club with a microphone you have the right to say whatever you want with no repercussions.I guess I can't really explain what COMEDY is all about. Glad you like some good comedians at least. I don't really believe in limits to what comedy can be about and what can be mocked. It's a shame you disagree.

[Fake Pat]

I guess I can't really explain what COMEDY is all about. Glad you like some good comedians at least. I don't really believe in limits to what comedy can be about and what can be mocked. It's a shame you disagree.

it is a damn shame. one day i will hopefully get over my own issues and learn to support blatant hate speech.

also, i'm just curious, what was he "mocking" in that clip? (i mean other than the black guy) do you honestly think there was anything more to that than just hurling racial insults?

[Justin.Strange]

I'm black. I'm not offended by his remarks. And i seriously question some things. How many people saying that they're offended are black? How many actual black people are offended? And the opinions of the 'allways-looking-for-a-soapbox-and-attention' ministers and the Black Panthers who hate whitey don't really count..

I think he fucked up. Going on stage in performing is frightening. Wheter you're in a band, or a comidean. You're on stage in front of a crowd exposing part of your soul. And having somebody screaming that you suck can be devastating. Alot of cats cant take it and crumble. He crumbled in a really bad way. And he apoligized for that fact.

I'm not defending what he did at all. It's just not the murder of Kennedy cats are making this out to be. At least he didnt use the Mel Gibson defense blame it on the booze, check into rehab, and play the victim card..

[Ryan Elliott]

I'm black. I'm not offended by his remarks. And i seriously question some things. How many people saying that they're offended are black? How many actual black people are offended? And the opinions of the 'allways-looking-for-a-soapbox-and-attention' ministers and the Black Panthers who hate whitey don't really count..

I think he fucked up. Going on stage in performing is frightening. Wheter you're in a band, or a comidean. You're on stage in front of a crowd exposing part of your soul. And having somebody screaming that you suck can be devastating. Alot of cats cant take it and crumble. He crumbled in a really bad way. And he apoligized for that fact.

I'm not defending what he did at all. It's just not the murder of Kennedy cats are making this out to be. At least he didnt use the Mel Gibson defense blame it on the booze, check into rehab, and play the victim card..



High five, dude.

[Greenville 90210]

I guess I can't really explain what COMEDY is all about. Glad you like some good comedians at least. I don't really believe in limits to what comedy can be about and what can be mocked. It's a shame you disagree.

This is the most I've ever liked you or agreed with you.











:grope:

[Greenville 90210]

I'm black. I'm not offended by his remarks. And i seriously question some things. How many people saying that they're offended are black? How many actual black people are offended? And the opinions of the 'allways-looking-for-a-soapbox-and-attention' ministers and the Black Panthers who hate whitey don't really count..

I think he fucked up. Going on stage in performing is frightening. Wheter you're in a band, or a comidean. You're on stage in front of a crowd exposing part of your soul. And having somebody screaming that you suck can be devastating. Alot of cats cant take it and crumble. He crumbled in a really bad way. And he apoligized for that fact.

I'm not defending what he did at all. It's just not the murder of Kennedy cats are making this out to be. At least he didnt use the Mel Gibson defense blame it on the booze, check into rehab, and play the victim card..

Yes! Finally someone that can look at this situation clearly. Thank you.

[Foolish Mortal]

So if I say it like that, with the "a" on that end instead of "er" as a term of indearment to a black person, they WON'T beat my ass?



Doesn't matter how you say it or WHO says it, it's still wrong.
Depends entirely on the tone and the circumstances. The word means "stupid person". Some blacks use it as friendly jab, or in anger as an insult. My mom for example refers to stupid white people at her job as 'niggers'.

To a white racist, the word strictly means "stupid black person". It's directed at black people only.

[Fake Pat]

I guess I can't really explain what COMEDY is all about.

i don't think i could truly explain what comedy is about either.

but, i know that calling a black person a "nigger" ain't it.

[Ryan Elliott]

Depends entirely on the tone and the circumstances. The word means "stupid person". Some blacks use it as friendly jab, or in anger as an insult. My mom for example refers to stupid white people at her job as 'niggers'.

To a white racist, the word strictly means "stupid black person". It's directed at black people only.




What about "Cracker?" And "whitey?" And "honkey?"

[Greenville 90210]

i don't think i could truly explain what comedy is about either.

but, i know that calling a black person a "nigger" ain't it.

But it can be. Sorry if that offends you but sometimes stuff will do that.

[Fake Pat]

But it can be. Sorry if that offends you but sometimes stuff will do that.

let state again: i am not OFFENDED by what he said.

and please explain to me how that can be comedy.

[A.Huerta]

let state again: i am not OFFENDED by what he said.

and please explain to me how that can be comedy.

It isnt. He got mad and was clearly saying it to offend, not be funny. "I went in a rage..." Yeah, that ish was all jokes.:roll:

[Ryan Elliott]

let state again: i am not OFFENDED by what he said.

and please explain to me how that can be comedy.




Ask Richard Pryor.

[Ben]

let state again: i am not OFFENDED by what he said.

and please explain to me how that can be comedy.Failed comedy doesn't make him a racist.

I also want to say that I appreciate you not insulting me and calling me an idiot like SOME people on this board that can't handle when someone doesn't agree with them.

[Fake Pat]

Ask Richard Pryor.

really? richard pryor's act was pointing to a black guy in the audience and just saying "you're a nigger"?

[Ryan Elliott]

really? richard pryor's act was pointing to a black guy in the audience and just saying "you're a nigger"?


More or less.



But then once he went to Africa, he realized the error in his ways.


EDIT: I missed that "just." No it wasn't JUST that, but he did it from time to time.

[A.Huerta]

Failed comedy doesn't make him a racist.

I also want to say that I appreciate you not insulting me and calling me an idiot like SOME people on this board that can't handle when someone doesn't agree with them.

I agree with you that jokes can go anywhere. But He wasnt trying to be funny.

[Jerome Gibbons]

I agree with you that jokes can go anywhere. But He wasnt trying to be funny.
I think that's the key thing, here.

[Foolish Mortal]

What about "Cracker?" And "whitey?" And "honkey?"
I don't know many black people that use those words anymore unless they're a 'Black Separatist'. But there's not many of those anymore. I might hear 'whitey' once a year. :lol:

[Foolish Mortal]

really? richard pryor's act was pointing to a black guy in the audience and just saying "you're a nigger"?
Uh, no. That wasn't Richard Pryor's act at all.

[Ryan Elliott]

I don't know many black people that use those words anymore unless they're a 'Black Separatist'. But there's not many of those anymore. I might hear 'whitey' once a year. :lol:


Where do you live?


I hear a lot of them all the time and I live Memphis.



And just becuase you don't hear them anymore doesn't mean they're not relevant.

[Fake Pat]

Uh, no. That wasn't Richard Pryor's act at all.

i know. but, i knew some would claim it was.

[A.Huerta]

I don't know many black people that use those words anymore unless they're a 'Black Separatist'. But there's not many of those anymore. I might hear 'whitey' once a year. :lol:

Well the dude in the video did say "cracker ass", but that was after the whole "50 years.." remark from Cosmo.

[Justin.Strange]

Yes! Finally someone that can look at this situation clearly. Thank you.

I'm in a band. I'm on stage and someone yells out that we suck. Do I yell out FUCK YOU HONKEY!!!!!!!! YOU LILLY WHITE SMALL PENISED SON OF A RETARD!!!! I'LL DOMINATE YOU IN BASKETBALL!!!

No man. No. Moms allways said you cant correct a wrong with a wrong. What heckler did was wrong. Ranting and hurling obscenities at him is just as wrong and qualifies as douchebag-behavior.

You either joke about it, warn him to shut the hell up, or get security to kick that asshole out. But you dont make that the highlight and go you about your buisness.

He didnt know what to do and as a result he panicked, reacted without thinking, and learned a very very very harsh lesson.

[A.Huerta]

I'm in a band. I'm on stage and someone yells out that we suck. Do I yell out FUCK YOU HONKEY!!!!!!!! YOU LILLY WHITE SMALL PENISED SON OF A RETARD!!!! I'LL DOMINATE YOU IN BASKETBALL!!!

No man. No. Mom's allways said you cant correct a wrong with a wrong. What heckler did was wrong. Ranting and hurling obscenities at him is just as wrong and qualifies as douchebag-behavior.

You either joke about it, warn him to shut the hell up, or get security to kick that asshole out. But you dont make that the highlight and go you about your buisness.

He didnt know what to do and as a result he panicked, reacted without thinking, and learned a very very very harsh lesson.


Kramer said they were talking too much and he got annoyed.

[Ryan Elliott]

I'm in a band. I'm on stage and someone yells out that we suck. Do I yell out FUCK YOU HONKEY!!!!!!!! YOU LILLY WHITE SMALL PENISED SON OF A RETARD!!!! I'LL DOMINATE YOU IN BASKETBALL!!!

No man. No. Moms allways said you cant correct a wrong with a wrong. What heckler did was wrong. Ranting and hurling obscenities at him is just as wrong and qualifies as douchebag-behavior.

You either joke about it, warn him to shut the hell up, or get security to kick that asshole out. But you dont make that the highlight and go you about your buisness.

He didnt know what to do and as a result he panicked, reacted without thinking, and learned a very very very harsh lesson.


I hate guys like that. Guys who go to a public event JUST to heckle the featured talent.

[Anna]

You're on stage in front of a crowd exposing part of your soul.

And every now and then it's an ugly part of your soul that gets exposed! Exciting!


He didnt know what to do and as a result he panicked, reacted without thinking, and learned a very very very harsh lesson.

Actually, the fact that it wasn't part of a prepared skit, that he obviously went on a (provoked) tirade is one of the reasons this whole thing is stinking so bad.

He gets angry and his first instinct is to whip out a racial slur and add to it the sodomized with pitchforks angle. Once again, it's all up to context. His priority was to hurt, not to be comedic.

Lots of people handwave Freudian slips and foot-in-mouth syndrome. Lots of people don't. Tricky thing.

[batmanbooyah]

i think its an act. watch, you'll see. YOULL SEE!

[Corwin: Bear Fighter]

I think he's clearly got some emotional issues that he needs to deal with, and I sincerely hope he does deal with them.

[STARSANDBRAINS]

Oh boo hoo. The bad man said some words.

If we're really such a shallow society that WORDS still bother us that much, we've got bigger problems than just some guy saying them.

[batmanbooyah]

what time does he come on letterman?

[Fake Pat]

Oh boo hoo. The bad man said some words.

If we're really such a shallow society that WORDS still bother us that much, we've got bigger problems than just some guy saying them.

it's not the fact that he just said the word. david cross got shit on by some people for saying "nigger" in a bit that made fun of racists. i do think that's overreacting somewhat.

this was not like that at all. this was a blatant racist attack. it's not the word itself, it's seeing someone go on an insanely nasty racist tirade (plus the mentions of lynchings) that is bothering people.

[STARSANDBRAINS]

it's not the fact that he just said the word. david cross got shit on by some people for saying "nigger" in a bit that made fun of racists. i do think that's overreacting somewhat.

this was not like that at all. this was a blatant racist attack. it's not the word itself, it's seeing someone go on an insanely nasty racist tirade (plus the mentions of lynchings) that is bothering people. At the end of the day, it's a word. A word that, by today's standards, is used by those it's to "offend." So I really don't get the fear behind it, unless...

Oh yeah, it's a fear that white people have about offending others.

[Fake Pat]

At the end of the day, it's a word. A word that, by today's standards, is used by those it's to "offend." So I really don't get the fear behind it, unless...

Oh yeah, it's a fear that white people have about offending others.

bull. fucking. shit.

this whole "white-guilt" thing is getting laughable. calling someone a jackass for being blatantly racist has nothing to do with me having guilt about my skin color. it has to do with the fact that racist=asshole.

[STARSANDBRAINS]

bull. fucking. shit.

this whole "white-guilt" thing is getting laughable. calling someone a jackass for being blatantly racist has nothing to do with me having guilt about my skin color. it has to do with the fact that racist=asshole.

Well, since you're like Michael Richards best friend or something and know all about him and that fact that he's a racist, 100%, I guess argument over.

And your white guilt is because you're sitting here getting offended by a word. If he went and attacked the guy, physically, then we'd be on the same team. But it's just words that people give this indignent power to.

[Fake Pat]

Well, since you're like Michael Richards best friend or something and know all about him and that fact that he's a racist, 100%, I guess argument over.

And your white guilt is because you're sitting here getting offended by a word. If he went and attacked the guy, physically, then we'd be on the same team. But it's just words that people give this indignent power to.

the whole screaming at a black guy he didn't know about lynchings and calling him a "nigger" was kind of a dead giveaway.

again, for the record, i am not offended by the word nigger. not at all.

i'm offended by stupidity.

edit: not directed at anyone on this board, honestly. my point is being racist= being stupid.

[Sam Little]

Watching that clip, I kinda think Richards was actually TRYING to be funny and outrageous with an un-PC comeback to the hecklers, but failed spectacularly. I think in his head he maybe thought he was going to make some kind of point on race relations or something, but got flustered and panicked and just kept digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole. I haven't seen the Letterman clip, but it sounds like he hasn't got an entirely firm grip on his marbles.

Is he really a racist? Hard to say, I think, for people that don't really know him personally.

Myself, I think it's just a case of a failing comedian desperately floundering and jamming his foot way down his throat.

[David Aspmo]

Watching that clip, I kinda think Richards was actually TRYING to be funny and outrageous with an un-PC comeback to the hecklers, but failed spectacularly. I think in his head he maybe thought he was going to make some kind of point on race relations or something, but got flustered and panicked and just kept digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole. I haven't seen the Letterman clip, but it sounds like he hasn't got an entirely firm grip on his marbles.

Is he really a racist? Hard to say, I think, for people that don't really know him personally.

Myself, I think it's just a case of a failing comedian desperately floundering and jamming his foot way down his throat.
I didn't find his demeanor on Letterman nearly as strange as it was described in some places. But, based on his and Seinfeld's description, it sounds like his way of performing on stage involves him loosening his grip on a couple of those marbles. I can actually kind of understand how he could lose it when putting himself in that kind of mental state. Exactly why the outburst went in the racist direction it did is cause for concern, though (and Richards did appear as though it sincerely was for him, as well).

.
David Aspmo

[Ryan Elliott]

I didn't find his demeanor on Letterman nearly as strange as it was described in some places. But, based on his and Seinfeld's description, it sounds like his way of performing on stage involves him loosening his grip on a couple of those marbles. I can actually kind of understand how he could lose it when putting himself in that kind of mental state. Exactly why the outburst went in the racist direction it did is cause for concern, though (and Richards did appear as though it sincerely was for him, as well).

.
David Aspmo


Like I said before, I'm just glad he didn't blame it on booze or drugs.


He said it was all his fault. He's sorry, and he's seeking help.


Doesn't make what he did okay, but at least he's taking responsibillity for his actions.

[Greenville 90210]

the whole screaming at a black guy he didn't know about lynchings and calling him a "nigger" was kind of a dead giveaway.

again, for the record, i am not offended by the word nigger. not at all.

i'm offended by stupidity.

edit: not directed at anyone on this board, honestly. my point is being racist= being stupid.

You don't lynch people upsidedown with a fork in their ass...

Or at least I've never heard of it.

[The Stig]

I just watched the clip (http://vidclick.blogspot.com/2006/11/seinfeld-star-apologizes-on-letterman.html).

...awkward

[Dennis K]

Oh, man. I don't know what's going to happen to him. It's like a nightmare. I'm still deciding if he just lost his cool or is actually racist (one could easily argue one way or the other) but I would not be surprised if he doesn't ever recover from this. At ALL.


That's just it, this is in no way a major star anymore, hell, he's barely a C-lister and the residuals will keep him and his family comfortable for the rest of their lives.

[Akira]

Watching that clip, I kinda think Richards was actually TRYING to be funny and outrageous with an un-PC comeback to the hecklers, but failed spectacularly. I think in his head he maybe thought he was going to make some kind of point on race relations or something, but got flustered and panicked and just kept digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole. I haven't seen the Letterman clip, but it sounds like he hasn't got an entirely firm grip on his marbles.

Is he really a racist? Hard to say, I think, for people that don't really know him personally.

Myself, I think it's just a case of a failing comedian desperately floundering and jamming his foot way down his throat.

I watched the clip several times before I watched the Letterman spot, and this is the only conclusion that I can come to. Some of his language in the clip ("Does this shock you?" "What's the matter? Too much for you?", "There are still those words, those words, those words...") seems like he was still doing a bit, or at least trying to. Like Lenny Bruce channeling Andy Kaufman (whom, if you'll remember, had Richards as a co-conspiritor back in their early days). It was stupid and a bad joke taken too far, but I really don't buy him as a racist.

[Mxy]

Okay i was going to write a long winded detailed reply but after reading this thread all i can say is

Hes just a fucking nut job.

[NickT]

the whole screaming at a black guy he didn't know about lynchings and calling him a "nigger" was kind of a dead giveaway.
I have to disagree there. IMO, there is a difference between saying racist things and being a racist.

[Jerome Gibbons]

I have to disagree there. IMO, there is a difference between saying racist things and being a racist.
But given the context, why else would he say such things?

[NickT]

But given the context, why else would he say such things?
Because he is shit at taking criticism.

[Bill?]

But given the context, why else would he say such things?

probably because he's fucking nuts.
thats just my theory though.

[Jerome Gibbons]

Because he is shit at taking criticism.
Perhaps, but you have to wonder what kind of person he is if the best (and only) way he can insult back a person who was heckling him is with racial slurs.

[NickT]

Perhaps, but you have to wonder what kind of person he is if the best (and only) way he can insult back a person who was heckling him is with racial slurs.
Oh yeah, there's a lot of negative things you could say about him after this.

[SethInAz]

Perhaps, but you have to wonder what kind of person he is if the best (and only) way he can insult back a person who was heckling him is with racial slurs.

I dunno, especially if the guy heckling you is using racial slurs too. Why does that guy get a pass?

I watched the Letterman segment and personally I think it admirable that he is truly sorry. I think his attempts to apologize at the club should clue people in to how genuine this is. The hecklers should do the same. Let's all move on with our lives.

[Jef UK]

Oh, man. I don't know what's going to happen to him. It's like a nightmare. I'm still deciding if he just lost his cool or is actually racist (one could easily argue one way or the other) but I would not be surprised if he doesn't ever recover from this. At ALL.


At a million per episode of Seinfeld the last couple of seasons, he doesn't need to.

I appreciated his apology, doing so in a timely manner, and his not ducking the issue. But then, I'm not to whom the apology was addressed so....

[Generic Poster]

I didn't have time to read the article, but Reed should be busted up. It's his fault that Thor clone killed Goliath.

[Jef UK]

I didn't have time to read the article, but Reed should be busted up. It's his fault that Thor clone killed Goliath.

:D

Totally.

[YouStayClassy]

Is it just me or is everyone apologizing for something.

My guess: 98% of American celebrities will have gone on a racist tirade by June.

It's the new black!

[adamgreenberger]

Then maybe he should have thought about what he said before he said it.

[Princesa]

This idiot needs to go somewhere.

[Fusion]

Then maybe he should have thought about what he said before he said it.

Otherwise this racist wouldn't have said what he really thought.

[Greenville 90210]

It's the new black!

Classy, I could hug you!

Shit, I will.

:hug:

[YouStayClassy]

Classy, I could hug you!

Shit, I will.

:hug:

:D

Thanks man.

[JimboX]

His "apology", although weird and confusing, seemed sincere. He really looked and sounded like he felt bad about what happened.

And at least he said he was sorry instead of the usual "I regret that you were offended" crap people usually give.