Richards apologizes for racial slurs

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer

He called two black hecklers the "n-word" and enthusiastically referenced a time when blacks were often victims of civil rights abuses, but Michael Richards said his verbal barrage during a stand-up routine was fueled by anger and not bigotry.

"For me to be at a comedy club and flip out and say this #######, I'm deeply, deeply sorry," the former "Seinfeld" co-star said during a satellite appearance for David Letterman's "Late Show" in New York.

"I'm not a racist. That's what's so insane about this," Richards said, his tone becoming angry and frustrated as he defended himself.

Richards described himself as going into "a rage" over the two audience members who interrupted his act Friday at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood.

His explanation was reminiscent of Mel Gibson's assertion that he wasn't anti-Semitic after he let off a barrage of Jewish slurs during a traffic stop last summer: despite what came out of his mouth, that's not what is inside him.

Industry colleagues were in no hurry to accept Richards' apology.

"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," comedian Paul Rodriguez, who was at the Laugh Factory during Richards' performance, told CNN. "Freedom of speech has its limitations and I think Michael Richards found those limitations."

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

"I've never seen anything like this in 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."

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."

Jerry Seinfeld, who had issued a statement saying he was "sick over this horrible, horrible mistake" and calling it offensive, was scheduled as a Letterman guest Monday. He encouraged Richards to make a satellite appearance to talk about the incident, a CBS publicist said.

Richards deserved the chance to apologize, Seinfeld said on "Late Show."

"He's someone that I love and I know how shattered he is about" what happened, Seinfeld said.

At one point, however, Richards grew flustered and expressed second thoughts about appearing on the program when his use of the term "Afro-American" caused some audience members to laugh.

"I'm hearing your audience laugh and I'm not even sure that this is where I should be addressing the situation," he said.

Richards, 57, who played Seinfeld's eccentric neighbor Kramer on the hit 1989-98 sitcom, hadn't spoken publicly about his remarks before "Late Show."

___

Associated Press Writers Jacob Adelman in Los Angeles and Erin Carlson in New York contributed to this report.

[peejay 327]

"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," comedian Paul Rodriguez, who was at the Laugh Factory during Richards' performance, told CNN. "Freedom of speech has its limitations and I think Michael Richards found those limitations."

That is a bogus statement. I've been around blacks that use the "N" word freely and don't find it amusing or cute. If someone doesn't have respect for themselves...how do they expect anyone else to respect them. Black comedians that use this method for cheap laughs are pretty lame too. Maybe in the world of racial ettiquet it is ignored, but it is still wrong to use the word onstage to get cheap laughs.

That being said...Richards owes everyone in the audience an apology for his tirade. He could have and should have responded to the heckling without getting racial.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"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," comedian Paul Rodriguez, who was at the Laugh Factory during Richards' performance, told CNN. "Freedom of speech has its limitations and I think Michael Richards found those limitations."

That is a bogus statement. I've been around blacks that use the "N" word freely and don't find it amusing or cute. If someone doesn't have respect for themselves...how do they expect anyone else to respect them. Black comedians that use this method for cheap laughs are pretty lame too. Maybe in the world of racial ettiquet it is ignored, but it is still wrong to use the word onstage to get cheap laughs.

Peejay, you're wife could either get offended or smile depending on how you would say to her, "My, you look lovely in that dress."

Another example would be for a fat person to comment to a skinny guy, "Geez, you could lose some weight."

The word '#######' has taken on a different meaning than the negative connotation usually associated with it.

That's the beauty of language...you can't be concrete with interpretation.

[dani_christine 0]

yes, he was out of line. there is no question that what he said was offensive. but...if you watch the video, the racial slurs are flying BOTH ways.

in particular, the man in the audience calls him a "f-ing cracker a$$" and a "f-ing white man"

of course, no one is talking about that.

[Ladylethal 12]

Something on the subject. In Brazil, the N-word is "negro" and black is "preto". For us it's an insult to call someone a "preto", when in fact, "negro" is the right name for the race. At the same time, depending on the context it's perfectly acceptable to use the word "preto" when talking about someone who's african-american.

So, 10 years ago I was an exchange student in US, and back then my english was poor and I didn't know much about US at all. I had a teacher pulling me to the corner of the classroom and saying between gritted teeth that I should NOT use the N word and I had no idea what she was talking about "what n word?" and she had a hard time actually saying it to me and explaining what I did wrong. I watched myself from that point on but I also remember that my african american classmates didn't seem offended by me, 'cus obviously, they knew I was foreign, and that I wasn't trying to be racist on anything.

Now I understand this a lot better, but back then I thought that maybe the whole N word issue was viewed worse by whites than by black people. And really, even more in Brazil, we're so mixed that now we have TONS of colors in between to invent names for, we go from chocolate, to coffee and milk, to brownie, or whatever we can use to call someone's color. I call myself a yellowish, since I'm a mix between spanish, black, native brazilian indian, and portuguese.

[JAYKE 0]

yes, he was out of line. there is no question that what he said was offensive. but...if you watch the video, the racial slurs are flying BOTH ways.

in particular, the man in the audience calls him a "f-ing cracker a$$" and a "f-ing white man"

of course, no one is talking about that.

I don't really feel that's even comparable. The "n" word obviously has a lot more history behind it - one of years of opression and struggle. Certainly, the "n" word brings about different imagery, and connotation than does "cracker".

[peejay 327]

"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," comedian Paul Rodriguez, who was at the Laugh Factory during Richards' performance, told CNN. "Freedom of speech has its limitations and I think Michael Richards found those limitations."

That is a bogus statement. I've been around blacks that use the "N" word freely and don't find it amusing or cute. If someone doesn't have respect for themselves...how do they expect anyone else to respect them. Black comedians that use this method for cheap laughs are pretty lame too. Maybe in the world of racial ettiquet it is ignored, but it is still wrong to use the word onstage to get cheap laughs.

Peejay, you're wife could either get offended or smile depending on how you would say to her, "My, you look lovely in that dress."

Another example would be for a fat person to comment to a skinny guy, "Geez, you could lose some weight."

The word '#######' has taken on a different meaning than the negative connotation usually associated with it.

That's the beauty of language...you can't be concrete with interpretation.

Hey...My wife doesn't look fat in that dress! How dare you for insinuating!

[dani_christine 0]

yes, he was out of line. there is no question that what he said was offensive. but...if you watch the video, the racial slurs are flying BOTH ways.

in particular, the man in the audience calls him a "f-ing cracker a$$" and a "f-ing white man"

of course, no one is talking about that.

I don't really feel that's even comparable. The "n" word obviously has a lot more history behind it - one of years of opression and struggle. Certainly, the "n" word brings about different imagery, and connotation than does "cracker".

Bull.

A word can only really be hurtful to you if you *choose* to be hurt. Sticks and stones, and all...

There is a segment of society that is so accustomed to playing the role of "victim", that they go around looking for reasons to be offended.

Again, I'm not defending him. I'm simply pointing out that what was said on both sides of the microphone was equally offensive.

*shrug*

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Did Charlize Theron accept the apology?

[JAYKE 0]

yes, he was out of line. there is no question that what he said was offensive. but...if you watch the video, the racial slurs are flying BOTH ways.

in particular, the man in the audience calls him a "f-ing cracker a$$" and a "f-ing white man"

of course, no one is talking about that.

I don't really feel that's even comparable. The "n" word obviously has a lot more history behind it - one of years of opression and struggle. Certainly, the "n" word brings about different imagery, and connotation than does "cracker".

Bull.

A word can only really be hurtful to you if you *choose* to be hurt. Sticks and stones, and all...

There is a segment of society that is so accustomed to playing the role of "victim", that they go around looking for reasons to be offended.

Again, I'm not defending him. I'm simply pointing out that what was said on both sides of the microphone was equally offensive.

*shrug*

Really? Has the word "cracker" been removed from the dictionary?

From Wikipedia (not the greatest source, but the idea I'm trying to present comes through):

"*** is a term used to refer to dark-skinned peoples, especially Africans or Negroids. It is often used by other races, including blacks, and is often regarded as offensive.

At the time of the Atlantic slave trade, it was a standard, casual English term for black people. The word later became associated with an overt contempt, a racist assumption of inherent black inferiority, making it extremely pejorative.

Today, the implied racism of the term is so strong that the use of *** in most situations is a social taboo in English-speaking countries. Many American magazines and newspapers will not even print the word in full, instead using n*gg*r, n**ger, n——, or simply "the N-word." A Washington Post article on Strom Thurmond's 1948 candidacy for President of the United States went so far as to replace it with the periphrasis "the less-refined word for black people." The word was also completely excised from the Microsoft Encarta dictionary, despite its common usage. The shock effect of the word can also be used to deliberately cause offense."

I am genuinely surprised that someone thinks that usage of "cracker" and "***" are of the same ilk. You have to admit that this country still has a long way to go in respect to healing the racial divide.

Do you remember when they were making the movie "The Amistad"? When they were chaining up the actors who portrayed slaves in the boat in preparation for filming a scene, the movie crew only allowed other people of color to do the shackling as it was such a sensitive theme. Now if THAT was an issue, then obviously use of the "N word" has more emotive value than "cracker".

Edited November 21, 2006 by JAYKE

[ace13 0]

Why do black people they call each other ***? There is no explanation that makes that right or makes it make since, but I guess I am just a cracker #######

[DeadPoolX 9]

I think part of the idea being bandied around in this thread is that if African-Americans want people of other races to respect them (and not call them dehumanizing names), then they themselves shouldn't do it either. What I mean is, when an African-American calls another African-American a racial slur such as "***" it only puts their culture and race down even more; it broadcasts out a message to other races and cultures that says "Look! It's okay to use this word and call us that!"

How often do you see white people calling each other "crackers," Asian people calling each other "chinks" or "japs" or Jews calling each other "yids?" The answer is not very often or not at all. Why? Because those words are put-downs and insulting towards them. Why insult yourself? There are plenty of other people who I'm sure are very willing to do it for you. There's no need to lower yourself to their level.

[Ban Hammer 14,273]

Another example would be for a fat person to comment to a skinny guy, "Geez, you could lose some weight."

The word '#######' has taken on a different meaning than the negative connotation usually associated with it.

That's the beauty of language...you can't be concrete with interpretation.

it's all a double standard. if you're not black, don't use that word.

do you see white people calling each other cracker?

[Jenn! 918]

it's all a double standard. if you're not black, don't use that word.

I've never had any desire to use that word. I don't understand the outrage at not being able to use that word as a non-black person. Who cares? Just don't say it.

[Cristy 4]

I agree Jenn.

Richards was the professional, he should not have done it period. He is a racist. No matter how angry I have ever gotten or will get in my life those things will not come from my lips. You don't say it if you don't mean it. He should not have said it no matter what the hecklers said.

I saw his apology. I think he is very sorry, just not for what he wants us to believe he is sorry for.