'Kramer' apologizes, hires crisis expert

[peejay 327]

'Kramer' apologizes, hires crisis expert

By SOLVEJ SCHOU, Associated Press Writer

Thu Nov 23, 7:43 AM ET

LOS ANGELES - First he went on national television to apologize for his racial tirade against two black hecklers. Now Michael Richards is taking his contriteness to the next level: he's hired a public relations expert with deep contacts in the black community.

New York publicist Howard Rubenstein took on Richards as a client Wednesday after being contacted by the actor-comedian. He then arranged for Richards to call the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

"I've known those gentlemen for many years," Rubenstein told The Associated Press.

"Michael apologized profusely. He wants to heal the tremendous wound that he's inflicted on the American public, and on the African-American community," he said.

Jackson, reached by phone, said Richards called "expressing his remorse and his confusion."

"He's embarrassed. He got caught on tape. That's a big part of his anxiety now," said Jackson.

"Clearly he needs some race sensibility training, and some psychiatric help. His anger is volatile and dangerous to himself and others," Jackson said. "I hope he gets the help he needs. But the culture that's producing this kind of animosity toward blacks must be addressed. ... We're increasingly facing cultural isolation in Hollywood, in the movies and in TV."

Jackson added, "We have to evaluate the use of the n-word and categorize it as hate speech, no matter who uses it."

Calls to Sharpton's home and to his National Action Network on Wednesday were not returned.

Richards, who played the kooky neighbor Kramer on the TV show "Seinfeld," lashed out at the hecklers last week during a performance at West Hollywood's Laugh Factory. A video of his rant then appeared on TMZ.com.

In a subsequent satellite appearance on David Letterman's "Late Show," Richards said his remarks were fueled by anger, not bigotry.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said in a statement Wednesday that the tirade and anti-Semitic comments by Mel Gibson earlier this year point to a pervasive trend in American culture, and that Richards' declaration "is indicative of the type of denial that too often accompanies racist rhetoric."

Rubenstein, whose media relations firm specializes in "crisis management" according to the firm's Web site, said he had never met or spoken to Richards before the actor called him.

Clients of Rubenstein's firm include Amazon.com, the New York Yankees, ABC Inc., Walt Disney Co., Time Inc., News Corp., Columbia University, the NAACP Image Awards and Bloomberg L.P., according to the Web site.

"I've been very involved in the African-American community for 25 to 30 years," Rubenstein said. "It would be a tragedy if this exacerbated our race relations. I hope I can help. ... It's always been an effort on my part to improve African-American and Jewish ethnic relations."

As for reports that Richards shouted out anti-Semitic remarks during another standup comedy routine in April, Rubenstein confirmed his client did, but that he was only role-playing.

"He's Jewish. He's not anti-Semitic at all. He was role-playing, he was playing a part. He did use inappropriate language, but he doesn't have any anti-Semitic feelings whatsoever," Rubenstein said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061123/ap_on_...ichael_richards

[I'm Gone 60]

At work yesterday I found at the some Mexican that hit my car doesn't have insurance. I was explaining it to the people I work with, most of which are black, I said "Some south of the border person hit my car." One of the guys ask me what would I have said if a black man had hit my car. I said he would have been a black man until I found out he didn't have insurance.

[Mags 112]

Mr Richards is starting to panic a bit now ain't he?

[KarenCee 3]

crisis? expert?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

At work yesterday I found at the some Mexican that hit my car doesn't have insurance. I was explaining it to the people I work with, most of which are black, I said "Some south of the border person hit my car." One of the guys ask me what would I have said if a black man had hit my car. I said he would have been a black man until I found out he didn't have insurance.

That's one of the differences

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

K.K.Kramer

[arwensun1965 1]

Now lets have a look at this from a different angle, say this fella called names to white people would this have made international news, NO it would not of done, it is a storm in a tea cup as usual. Everyone has to get along weather they be black, brown or whatever, things have got to be fair for all people no matter what race they are, I do not like the N word but I do not like being called white trash either or other nasty words because I happen to be white. Like everyone here I did not choose what colour I am, but we are all the same colour underneath, we all bleed the same bloody colour. You only have to open your mouth and have a different view and your called a racist and the media make things worse.

[PlatyPius 5]

I call an a$$hole an a$$hole, no matter what colour they are.

[Savanphil 3]

I think all this apologising has a lot to do with Seinfeld season 7 coming out on DVD.

[almaty 19]

that his bread and butter..he has never did anything prior and since that show

[Savanphil 3]

that his bread and butter..he has never did anything prior and since that show

you said it "brother"

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

that his bread and butter..he has never did anything prior and since that show

Contrare mon frere, you don't remember the show, 'Fridays'?

He had some pretty funny characters on there...one of this guy playing with G.I. Joe dolls.

He's an alumni from CalArts, school of theatre.

[Mags 112]

that his bread and butter..he has never did anything prior and since that show

Contrare mon frere, you don't remember the show, 'Fridays'?

He had some pretty funny characters on there...one of this guy playing with G.I. Joe dolls.

He's an alumni from CalArts, school of theatre.

His other show was cancelled....and I've not seen him in anything else since. Thank goodness, he's bloody annoying and NOT funny. He needs to move on and get new material. There's only so long you can make a living out of a 15 year old character...alumni or not.

Edited November 24, 2006 by mags

[peejay 327]

"Clearly he needs some race sensibility training, and some psychiatric help. His anger is volatile and dangerous to himself and others," Jackson said. "I hope he gets the help he needs. But the culture that's producing this kind of animosity toward blacks must be addressed. ... We're increasingly facing cultural isolation in Hollywood, in the movies and in TV."

Jackson added, "We have to evaluate the use of the n-word and categorize it as hate speech, no matter who uses it."

Funny how Jesse don't practice what he preaches. I wonder if he apologized and empathized with Richards for disrespecting his (Richards') people?

Jesse Jackson's 'Hymietown' Remark – 1984

Rev. Jesse Jackson referred to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown" in January 1984 during a conversation with a black Washington Post reporter, Milton Coleman. Jackson had assumed the references would not be printed because of his racial bond with Coleman, but several weeks later Coleman permitted the slurs to be included far down in an article by another Post reporter on Jackson's rocky relations with American Jews.

A storm of protest erupted, and Jackson at first denied the remarks, then accused Jews of conspiring to defeat him. The Nation of Islam's radical leader Louis Farrakhan, an aggressive anti-Semite and old Jackson ally, made a difficult situation worse by threatening Coleman in a radio broadcast and issuing a public warning to Jews, made in Jackson's presence: "If you harm this brother [Jackson], it will be the last one you harm."

Finally, Jackson doused the fires in late February with an emotional speech admitting guilt and seeking atonement before national Jewish leaders in a Manchester, New Hampshire synagogue. Yet Jackson refused to denounce Farrakhan, and lingering, deeply rooted suspicions have led to an enduring split between Jackson and many Jews. The frenzy also heightened tensions between Jackson and the mostly white establishment press.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/polit...nzy/jackson.htm

Unfuckingbelievable! Amnesia at its finest hour.

[Tim&Poonam 0]

"Clearly he needs some race sensibility training, and some psychiatric help. His anger is volatile and dangerous to himself and others," Jackson said. "I hope he gets the help he needs. But the culture that's producing this kind of animosity toward blacks must be addressed. ... We're increasingly facing cultural isolation in Hollywood, in the movies and in TV."

Jackson added, "We have to evaluate the use of the n-word and categorize it as hate speech, no matter who uses it."

Funny how Jesse don't practice what he preaches. I wonder if he apologized and empathized with Richards for disrespecting his (Richards') people?

Jesse Jackson's 'Hymietown' Remark – 1984

Rev. Jesse Jackson referred to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown" in January 1984 during a conversation with a black Washington Post reporter, Milton Coleman. Jackson had assumed the references would not be printed because of his racial bond with Coleman, but several weeks later Coleman permitted the slurs to be included far down in an article by another Post reporter on Jackson's rocky relations with American Jews.

A storm of protest erupted, and Jackson at first denied the remarks, then accused Jews of conspiring to defeat him. The Nation of Islam's radical leader Louis Farrakhan, an aggressive anti-Semite and old Jackson ally, made a difficult situation worse by threatening Coleman in a radio broadcast and issuing a public warning to Jews, made in Jackson's presence: "If you harm this brother [Jackson], it will be the last one you harm."

Finally, Jackson doused the fires in late February with an emotional speech admitting guilt and seeking atonement before national Jewish leaders in a Manchester, New Hampshire synagogue. Yet Jackson refused to denounce Farrakhan, and lingering, deeply rooted suspicions have led to an enduring split between Jackson and many Jews. The frenzy also heightened tensions between Jackson and the mostly white establishment press.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/polit...nzy/jackson.htm

Unfuckingbelievable! Amnesia at its finest hour.

\

Jessie Jackson, Now theres a racist !