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Kramer pipes up with the n-word (Seinfeld's Kramer gone wild)
AP via Sydney Morning Herald ^ | 11/21/2006 | Staff

Posted on 11/20/2006 4:05:45 PM PST by Dark Skies

Former Seinfeld star Michael Richards stunned a comedy club audience, shouting racial insults at people who made fun of him during his performance, it was reported.

The 57-year-old actor-comedian, best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's eccentric neighbour Kramer on the hit TV show, was performing at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles on Friday night when he started the insults, according to video posted on entertainment website TMZ.com.

The tirade apparently began after two black audience members started shouting at him that he wasn't funny.

Richards answered: "Shut up! Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f--king fork up your arse."

He paced across the stage taunting the men for interrupting his show.

"You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now mother-f--ker. Throw his arse out. He's a nigger!" Richards shouted before repeating the racial insult over and over again.

An audience member heckled back: "That was uncalled for, you f--king cracker-ass motherf--ker."

Richards retorted: "Cracker-ass? You calling me cracker-ass, nigger?"

While there was some audible chuckling in the audience, someone could be heard gasping, "Oh my God."

Another audience member is heard to call out: "It's not funny. That's why you're a reject, never had no shows, never had no movies. 'Seinfeld,' that's it."

Richards performed the next night at the Laugh Factory without incident.

Calls to Richards' representatives were not immediately returned early today.

He refused to comment on-camera when reached by CNN, but the news network reported that he said off-camera he felt sorry for what had happened and had made amends.

Former co-star Jerry Seinfeld issued a statement saying he was "sick over this".

"I'm sure Michael is also sick over this horrible, horrible mistake. It is so extremely offensive. I feel terrible for all the people who have been hurt," Seinfeld said.

Comic Paul Rodriguez, who was at the club, said he thought Richards' remarks crossed the line.

"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," he said.

"Freedom of speech has its limitations and I think Michael Richards found those limitations."

Comedian George Lopez told Los Angeles television station KTLA that he thought Richards' lack of stand-up experience may have been a factor.

"The question is you have an actor who is trying to be a comedian who doesn't know what to do when an audience is disruptive," Lopez said.

"He's an actor whose show has been off the air, he shouldn't ever be on a stand-up gig."


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: comedyishard; dyingiseasy; idiots; kramer; stupid
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To: Defiant; Dark Skies
Your statement

I can't believe a guy that long in the industry couldn't control himself better than that.

I agree with your last paragraph. People can be thoughtless and cruel. The biographies of now famous comics often tell of complete humiliation. Jim Carrey, rubber faced lad comes to mind. Peter Sellers,supposedly one of the immortals,burst into tears and told an audience " you bloody well hate me",he walked off the stage and into fame.

I heard the audio. Funny thing was that Kramer's opening thrust re the fork, actually drew laughs and muted cheers. This guy actually had the crowd with him. He blew it. A female voice laughed.

Later the female voice said "Oh my God". She knew he blew it. I wonder how many Freepers have been to "stand up comedy". I have and I just do not like it. (An old curmudgeon) laughs.

61 posted on 11/20/2006 7:06:28 PM PST by Peter Libra
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Comment #62 Removed by Moderator

To: ladyinred

Well, actually it was a botched joke, he meant to say that Bush was stupid and we needed to get out of Iraq.

Also, he released a statement saying he is entering rehab in Minnesota for an undisclosed addiction.

**eyes rolling**


63 posted on 11/20/2006 7:07:03 PM PST by Perdogg (I'm Perdogg and I approved this message)
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To: Perdogg

I thought it was funny.


64 posted on 11/20/2006 7:13:18 PM PST by Rome2000 (Peace is not an option)
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To: Dark Skies

Not funny at all.


65 posted on 11/20/2006 7:14:54 PM PST by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Peter Libra
Funny thing was that Kramer's opening thrust re the fork, actually drew laughs and muted cheers.

Borat gets this reaction in a lot of his events. People don't assume a mean motive at first, and laugh out of habit and perhaps courtesy. Then, the words keep coming, and suddenly people get this look on their face like someone farted (which in Borat's case, he probably did) and then they look at each other and say "uh oh". That moment happened when the lady says "oh my God".

Kramer "borated" himself. He exposed his own racism.

66 posted on 11/20/2006 7:27:32 PM PST by Defiant (Dems don't want to lose Iraq, they just want Hillary to win it and then fly onto a carrier.)
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To: Dark Skies

Hey Kramer, Robert Byrd called. He wants his act back!


67 posted on 11/20/2006 7:32:37 PM PST by AtomicBuffaloWings (Still not hot enough, A few of my taste buds are still alive.)
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To: lmr

Any time I hear something like this (for instance the Mel Gibson thing) I think of Baldwin saying that Henry Hyde and his family should be stoned to death, right there on network TV (it was either the Jay Leno show or maybe David Letterman, I forget which). It didn't sound like a joke at all. But I don't recall anyone expressing outrage except for conservatives. So....while I think what Richards said is pretty stupid, I find it hypocritical for the usual suspects to say much about it.
susie


68 posted on 11/20/2006 7:34:13 PM PST by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: MotleyGirl70

I thing this guy got it right!!! me!

http://rightwing.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=324&pid=2304&st=0&#entry2304


69 posted on 11/20/2006 7:35:14 PM PST by jimhawk
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To: thegreatbeast

I wish we were all more civil, at least in public. But you're right, it's everywhere.
susie


70 posted on 11/20/2006 7:35:17 PM PST by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: Bonaparte

You may be right, it was a rage thing, and he hit back with what he had out of anger. If so, I'd hate to make him mad when he was holding a shotgun.


71 posted on 11/20/2006 7:36:54 PM PST by Defiant (Dems don't want to lose Iraq, they just want Hillary to win it and then fly onto a carrier.)
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To: Titanium Tom

Actually, as long as the govt doesn't step in it's not really a free speech issue. I suppose the comedy club could fire him for it, especially if it causes people to boycott the club. (or maybe I'm wrong--but that's what I think--and if I'm wrong, I know some freeper will come to my rescue and point out my error! ;) )
susie


72 posted on 11/20/2006 7:38:47 PM PST by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: Bonaparte
... 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason

ruh roh.....

susie

73 posted on 11/20/2006 7:39:27 PM PST by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: Dark Skies
It is totally amazing to see people get worked up over idiomatic phrases -- treat them as the most venal of sins.

Anyone ever read the Lord's words to the Cananite woman? ("not meet to take from the children"-- redirect energy and blessings from the Jews-- and give to the dogs -- the Gentiles). The savvy Gentile woman gave a great response to the "slight" and was rewarded with the healing of her daughter.

74 posted on 11/20/2006 7:44:54 PM PST by Zechariah11
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
I'm not an expert on it (could care less what people call me, frankly) however, here is what dictionary.com says:

Offensive.
1. Used as a disparaging term for a poor white person of the rural, especially southeast United States.
2. Used as a disparaging term for a white person.

susie

75 posted on 11/20/2006 7:46:48 PM PST by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: All

Kramer was on David Letterman tonight via satellite with Jerry Seinfeld.

Kramer pretty much blamed his tirade on the racial atmosphere in society, and on the treatment of blacks during hurricane katrina and on "wars between us and other countries."

What a load o' crap.


76 posted on 11/20/2006 9:12:28 PM PST by Armedanddangerous (Master of Sinanju (emeritus))
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To: thegreatbeast
But I leave my house and hear the word dozens of time out on the street. What do you make of that?

You....live on Kramer's street?

77 posted on 11/20/2006 9:14:04 PM PST by Pelham (1 Billion 'Guest Workers' to do Jobs Americans Won't Do.)
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To: Armedanddangerous

Uh, you and I must've seen two different David Letterman shows tonight. Richards (Kramer) didn't blame it on those things at all, he took full responsibility for his rage. His reference to the things you mentioned was a concern that his outburst would incite further racism toward blacks and the withdrawing of help for the blacks affected by Katrina.

He was obviously very genuinely sorry. I don't know how anyone couldn't have seen that. I hope that this is a wake up call for him for dealing with his anger in general, as his tirade was certainly over the top. And it seems, from his response on Letterman, that it was.


78 posted on 11/20/2006 9:25:23 PM PST by TruthSetsUFree
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To: Defiant
Now, you're black, and were prepared to support Richards if he goes after a guy who's interrupting the show you came to see. But instead of going after the heckler, he has now attacked YOU, and made you someone worthy of the disgust and hatred in his voice, because to him, you are just an N, too. That is a presumption on your part. Nowhere is it made clear that this is Richard's opinion of all blacks. It is something he said to a few people that derided his act as he was doing it.
79 posted on 11/20/2006 9:26:55 PM PST by thegreatbeast (Avenge Curt Weldon!)
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To: TruthSetsUFree

I agree he was genuinely sorry but here's what he said:

"And I'll get to the force field of this hostility, why it's there, why the rage is in any of us, why the trash takes place, whether or not it's between me and a couple of hecklers in the audience or between this country and another nation"

Sorry, but that's almost as pathetic as his original outburst.


80 posted on 11/20/2006 9:35:27 PM PST by Itaintwhy
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