Kramer pipes up with the n-word (Seinfeld's Kramer gone wild)

AP via Sydney Morning Herald ^ | 11/21/2006 | Staff

[My2Cents]

Amazing watching a guy kill off his entire career in a matter of moments.

[My2Cents]

Wonder when the demands will come to take "Seinfeld" off of syndication?

[kromike]

Cosmo had a "career"? /s

[vetsvette]

"What does freedom of speech have to do with this?"

I certainly don't agree with what he said/did.

That said, he had the right to say it, just as the guy who answered him had the right to call him a "cracker-ass" and the folks who are offended by his racial slurs have the right to object by not patronizing his shows anymore.

Those that don't believe in freedom of speech would like to pass laws that make what he said/did illegal. That's what freedom of speech has to do with this.

[kromike]

{applause}...Well stated.

[samm1148]

What I've said for years: Leftists are the biggest racists there are. This guy just blew up and let fly with his true feelings.

[MotleyGirl70]

There's a club that you have to belong to in order to used that "N" word freely.

"Ni***, please."

[KoRn]

I expect he will go on some kind of apology tour with Al Sharpton or some other race warlord and contribute to the NAALCP. All will be forgotten.

[My2Cents]

He'll enter rehab.

[Titanium Tom]

Did he cross the line? Yeah, I'd agree with that assessment. It's not a free speech issue though. If Eddie Murphy, or Chris Rock had said it, it would be a non-issue - no matter the color of the audience member.

[Bonaparte]

Some interesting facts I dug up about Michael Richards --

... over 20 years experience in stand-up comedy

... discovered by Billy Crystal who featured him on one of his comedy specials

... drafted in army during Vietnam, served for 2 years, was stationed in Germany

... won 3 emmy awards for his "Kramer" role

... 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason

... numerous film, TV, stage credits at IMDB

[5Madman2]

Well said

Think the dreaded "N" word has gone beyond a racial term-it describes a set of behaviors, blacks use it openly, whites are forced to think it, never speak it, for fear of the repercussions.

Not to excuse Richards, but he said it out loud (Very Loud) and broke the taboo. The hollering class will make him pay.

What the loudest advocates of "Free Speech" seem to always forget is that it doesn't prevent being offended, and that the right to speech does not equate to the right to be listened to.

[OldFriend]

Not gone wild, gone insane!

[ladyinred]

The link is already posted on FR. It is really something!

[GreenHornet]

Richards was doing standup for a number of years before landing his role on Seinfeld. If you're going to do standup comedy, you're going to encounter hecklers from time to time. Richards is not a newcomer to the business. I don't care what these guys were saying to him - he should have been able to handle this situation without resorting to this kind of garbage. If worse came to worse, he could have had the bouncers remove these guys. There is no defense for his behavior.

It will be interesting to see if this incident gets the same amount of media exposure that Mel Gibson's tirade received.

[Jedidah]

Slow news day.

Let us all be thankful that nothing of consequence happened today.

[sappy]

One free pass, comin' up.

[gruffwolf]

The same people who are offended by his rant will tune in to watch Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Ice Cube, 50 Cent, etc.....

Richards is an idiot but the hypocrisy of those offended is astounding.

[Bonaparte]

"... whites are forced to think it, never speak it, for fear of the repercussions."

Most whites. A couple years ago, I watched a very skillful, experienced, professional public speaker use the "N word" repeatedly to a mixed audience. When this white boy was finished speaking, he got an enthusiastic standing O from everybody in the audience, including the black people. It all depends on how you put it across.