Kramer: from seinfeld to racist...

[BIG GREEN]

http://www.break.com/index/kramers_apology.html

There's his stuttering but seeminly sincere apology. This whole thing would make a great re-union episode of seinfield...considering their were hardly any blacks in that show...based nYc no less.

[Riot]

Damn...Michael Richards hasn't done anything since Seinfeld has he? I actually kind of want to see one of his stand-up acts to see if he is at all funny. According to the guys heckling him; he isn't.

What really disturbs me is how when he was freaking out there were some laughs in the crowd. Granted, they were probably nervous laughs and people were probably wondering if this was part of the act or what. Either way...you can hear some laughs in the audience when he starts going on his tirade. I don't mind the heckling because it's actually funny when a comedian engages with his audience. It can add to the show. But when you start spewing off racist garbage then you need to stop. Richards freaking snapped...makes you wonder what the hell was going on in his head at the time.



(Plugs in Seinfeld Season 4 DVD)

[volsey]

I don't care if they did say "get off the stage cracker" or anything. He just went way too far. It wasn't funny at all, as for the people at the club laughing, even if I was drunk, I wouldn't find that funny. I loved Kramer until I saw that video.

[Oznogrd]

Like i said, i still agree it was a fucked up thing to say. He could've handled it much better. But Mel was unprovoked at random which is why i think it was worse. He was pissed and his true racism came out, but anger makes people do funny things. I play devils advocate alot (as yall have probably figured out by now), and i just want you guys to know i dont mean anything by it. Maybe i should start putting disclaimers under my posts "words do not reflect the feelings of anyone..."

[Jeffx]

http://www.break.com/index/kramers_apology.html

There's his stuttering but seeminly sincere apology. This whole thing would make a great re-union episode of seinfield...considering their were hardly any blacks in that show...based nYc no less.

That's no surprise. The NYC metro area(especially Westchester & Long Island) is one of the most segregated areas in the U.S. It's third-highest according to a census report I read. I was born & raised here - believe me, you'll find as much racial hatred here as in the deep South.

[---]

Wow, what a fag. As the guy said, that was fuckin uncalled for. He is very lucky he didn't get smashed on stage, if I was that guy I wouldn't of hesitated. That guy showed alot of self control.

Also Mazz, I didn't see that as a joke.

EDIT: Why the fuck are people laughing during the "apology"?

[Andrew]

I'd only seen clips of his apology on Letterman before now so it was interesting to see the entire appearance. He does seem genuinely upset and remorseful of his actions but even assuming he merely succumbed to anger and frustration at being heckled and lashed out by jumping to a racist tirade in an attempt to diffuse the situation with shock humour - which didn't work as his words were shocking but certainly not humourous - there's no excuse for what he did. If he'd resorted to non-racial insult humour to deflect the heckling then it wouldn't be an issue but his approach during that gig was way out of line.

EDIT: Why the fuck are people laughing during the "apology"?

I found that a bit disturbing as well. Perhaps some members of the audience simply didn't know how to react or as Seinfeld suggested are use to laughing when they see Richards make an appearance.

[---]

but even assuming he merely succumbed to anger and frustration at being heckled and lashed out by jumping to a racist tirade in an attempt to diffuse the situation with shock humour - which didn't work as his words were shocking but certainly not humourous - there's no excuse for what he did.

Agreed. Also, if he didn't say "I'm not a racist" in his apology then his explanation about the occurance happening just because he getting frustrated and angry would seem alot more credible. You simply don't go on a racist tirade because your angry, he has too have something against blacks.

EDIT: After watching the video again, there is no way he was trying to diffuse the situation with "shock humor". The way he says everything is in a way, which even if he was telling a joke, I wouldn't see it as humorous. It was almost like he was possessed.

[cyanide]

It was interesting how he uses repetition by saying short words three consecutive times. I think it's something comedians do to get new ideas going or something, or some sort of memory exercise. I've seen Chris Rock repeat a full sentence twice frequently in one of his acts. Too bad Richards had to use 'nigger' three times in a row.

[Zoom]

I've seen both the incident and his appology on David Letterman. Kramer's 'career' is ruined... People listening to him on the show for his appology probably laugh because they are so used to seeing him and thinking he's funny. Hence, I'm not even sure if anyone has taken his appology seriously. What he said was very distasteful and if anyone believes it was funny, they are definitely racist.

[cyanide]

This just occurred to me: Do you think Kramer would have been spared the huge media attention if that guy with the video camera and internet access wasn't there? He could make good money selling that clip to CNN, etc.

[Andrew]

Probably not. Incidents like that have a way of being picked up by the media especially when the person in question is as well-known as Michael Richards. If it was some aspiring comic who lost control on stage there'd no doubt be some small mention of it but with someone like Richards word is inevitably going to spread.

[Axel]

but even assuming he merely succumbed to anger and frustration at being heckled and lashed out by jumping to a racist tirade in an attempt to diffuse the situation with shock humour - which didn't work as his words were shocking but certainly not humourous - there's no excuse for what he did.

Agreed. Also, if he didn't say "I'm not a racist" in his apology then his explanation about the occurance happening just because he getting frustrated and angry would seem alot more credible. You simply don't go on a racist tirade because your angry, he has too have something against blacks.

I for one certainly don't excuse his actions, but I did find the apology sincere. I disagree with you in the point that he must have something against blacks. In America, and definetly where I live, associations are made on race. Unfortunately, the first thing he, and many others here take notice of is the color of the skin, especially in a bizzare situation like this. Spouting out racial obscenities is a learned action in many regards, because it is such a common thing. Does that mean he would react the same way in a much less dramatic situation? He probably wasn't thinking, and said the first thing that came to his mind. Do you always mean what you say when you're in a tirade? How many times have you said you wanted to kill someone? Did you really want to kill that person?

It's appalling behavior, I'll give you that. But it doesn't mean he's necesarily a racist. He was angered, and said a few things he didn't mean.

[---]

He probably wasn't thinking, and said the first thing that came to his mind. Do you always mean what you say when you're in a tirade? How many times have you said you wanted to kill someone? Did you really want to kill that person?

"I'm gonna kill you!!!"

Thats almost a cliche. Its such a general thing to say and 99.9% of the time not meant seriously. But I can't see how you can say:

"Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a fucking fork up your ass."

"You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now motherfucker. Throw his ass out. He's a nigger! He's a nigger! He's a nigger! A nigger, look, there's a nigger!"

"They're going to arrest me for calling a black man a nigger."

"Thats what happens when you interrupt the white man, don't you know?"

... And not be a racist.

When you use terms specific to that persons race to insult them, while being completely uncalled for as the victim said, your a racist. Simple as that.

I don't care how sincere his apology was. He is a racist.

[Axel]

I'm sorry, but I prefer not to judge a person on one instance. If this were something habitual I would though. I don't see the point of judging others anyway, unless your aim is to perpetuate the circle of hate.

[---]

All I'm saying is that not matter what he says, he's a racist. You simply can't say what he said and not be a racist. I'm sure if you were in the shoes of the victim you would brand him as a racist, I would too. To say he just got angry and didn't actually mean the racist comments (which he said on multiple occasions) is absurd.

What I'm not saying is that he is a bad person, but being racist sure as hell doesn't help.

[kevC]

I for one certainly don't excuse his actions, but I did find the apology sincere. I disagree with you in the point that he must have something against blacks. In America, and definetly where I live, associations are made on race. Unfortunately, the first thing he, and many others here take notice of is the color of the skin, especially in a bizzare situation like this. Spouting out racial obscenities is a learned action in many regards, because it is such a common thing. Does that mean he would react the same way in a much less dramatic situation? He probably wasn't thinking, and said the first thing that came to his mind. Do you always mean what you say when you're in a tirade? How many times have you said you wanted to kill someone? Did you really want to kill that person?

It's appalling behavior, I'll give you that. But it doesn't mean he's necesarily a racist. He was angered, and said a few things he didn't mean.

I tend to agree with this. When we're angered by a stranger, we tend to insult them on what we see. For example, when I am cut off driving by some fat lady, I could yell "what the hell are you doing? you fat bitch!", but that doesn't necessarily mean I hate fat people. Unfortunately in this case, what Richards saw was that he was black, and he carried his angered way too far.

(First post in a long long time. Who the hell are all these new people?)

[Jeffx]

Aw, f--k Michael Richards. Like Mel Gibson, he can take his apology and shove it up his ass. It's nothing but hollow words anyway. If he's so bad, say that sh!t to a brother out in the street and see what happens. Those brothers should have said, "Hey Kramer, if you see a n----r in here, come whip his ass!"

But a lot of folks agree with Richards actions. Some applauded him. That shows you the truth about many Americans.

[j-Art]

i think those applauds like many have said were just nervous ones. i think people were just unsure of how to react so they just applauded thinking it was maybe a really sarcastic remark. but were there people in the audience agreeing with what he said you bet i mean in a room full of people there has to be atleast one racist person in the group. but he is now going to get a law suit because the guy wants some kind of compensation for the incident

[Jeffx]

.....but he is now going to get a law suit because the guy wants some kind of compensation for the incident

Now that's ridiculous. Unless someone puts his hands on you, you can't sue him for being a racist.

[---]

Its sorta like public humiliation though. If I was the black dude i would of decked him after the "Nigger! Nigger! Nigger!" comment.

[BIG GREEN]

.....but he is now going to get a law suit because the guy wants some kind of compensation for the incident

Now that's ridiculous. Unless someone puts his hands on you, you can't sue him for being a racist.

You'd be amazed at the shit people can sue for. He can also sue saying richards cause him anxiety and stress or some bullshit like that.

[RSox]

What was he thinking? How dumb can you be? Good luck getting another comedy spot.

[---]

I recently discovered this fuckwit while browsing Youtube. He calls himself "The Amazing Racist".

I pretty much hope he's dead now.

Racism towards Mexicans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mCXIXjD ... ed&search=

Racism towards Asians: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA4DYjzp ... ed&search=

Racism towards Blacks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXB0tCE_ ... ed&search=

Prejudice towards Muslims: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jna-xUfX ... ed&search=

More Racism towards Mexicans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLflIX4S ... ed&search=

Fucking pathetic. Being white I feel disgraced by how whites are perceived by the minorities. The time he was in the KKK gear he could of been killed, but those guys were actually too nice to not shoot him. I am incredibly amazed by and can't believe there was minimal violence. Probably the one guy I would pay to see the video of his death.

[Stevesanity]

Umm did no one consider he was being heckled and he was just trying to fuck with the guy to make him shut up? I'm not trying to excuse the massive amounts of wrong things about this: but this is absolutely nothing compared to the shit mel gibson said.

Errr you do know that so many comedians make racist jokes, make fun of disabled people and well all in all make very low remarks so if they can't take back heckling or the same thing then they shouldn't be throwing those "jokes" out in the first place.

like the whole mel gibson thing i mean cmon how many times has someone been drunk celebrity or not and say something and just use the excuse that they were drunk. when ur drunk or in this case angry the truth comes out. maybe not "worded" the way people like but some of what gibson and richards said has to have some basis of truth to it

Basis of truth? Are you saying that jews and africans are lesser people?

People can apologize about racial tirades all they went but fact is your still a racist at the end of the day even if you do seem sincere about it. I was kinda upset with Mel Gibson throwing those remarks about jews because I thought he was a better person but as for Richards hes just washed up trash and you get plenty of people like him crowding the streets these days.

on a lighter note
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v1ykIgo ... h_response

wtf