Posted on 11/23/2006 10:58:29 AM PST by Roberts
LOS ANGELES (AP) - 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. (NWS), 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.
Penniless and unable to get a job, lol! If he's dumb enough to think those two are going to help him, he deserves it. I was feeling a little sorry for him but this is even more boneheaded than the onstage rant.
i'm so damn sick of the p.c. crap. black folks use the word nigger or nigga constantly and yet our media empowers the word by refusing to even print or say it. what inane horseapples. does america want the word to die or not?? when a black public figure uses "hate speech" (including the rev-rund) that's ok, but let a white person even HINT at a racial slur and it's hang-em HIGH!! when are americans going to get over themselves and get real for a freakin change.
Jackson added, "We have to evaluate the use of the n-word and categorize it as hate speech, no matter who uses it."
Wonder if Jesse saw that delightful little video last week of the two black kids fighting and the adults shouting "Git that nig-er!"
Oh Yeah. I tell you what, with 50 members of my extended family coming to visit me, it isn't easy. Last night they were all fighting over who gets to sleep in my mansion and who sleeps in the motel6 down the road.
He's one of the funniest ever!
Puh-leeze! Anybody whose feelings were hurt by this nobody needs to Get A Life. In fact, I might respect him, if he told the "American public" and the "African-American community" to grow up and get over it.
This whole "jew-not-a-jew" business is kinda sickening to me, but why would one believe "Huffington Post" but not the man's own publicist?
I still laugh at his comment that he sent some DD-7 to Mikhail Gorbechav to get that stain off his forehead!
Yep, that's the real pain Richards is going to feel.
ROFL!
LOL
THese stories always go to prove ONE thing above all others: there is no conduct "terrible" enough to keep it from generating publicity for all involved, advance the agendas and careers of whomever thinks they can benefit, and allow the opportunity to extort, directly or indirectly, money from the "guilty party". That is what it is ALL about, not that "Life-as-we-know-it-hangs-in-the-balance burning question "Does Michael Richards really hate blacks? Will he and Al and Jesse get together? Will we finally be able to feel all warm and fuzzy once again?
Will we all be able , finally,to heal??????"
It's important. If you would read the virulent anti Semitic sites you would see that they jumped all over the incident to justify anti Semitism with claims that "see, Jews are also racists".
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=16838
He should get a new publicist.
Well, those people are always going to say something like that.
As for his publicist, if he is clueless or lying , that's not going to help matters.
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According to sources familiar with Richards, the actor was raised Catholic. A biography of him on the Wikipedia web site lists no religion, but does say Richards is very involved in the Masons.
Unnamed "sources familiar?"
His spokesman keeps insisting that he is jewish. From the Chicaco Defender:
""He is Jewish," Rubenstein said. "I don't know about what other reports have said. I am his spokesman and I am telling you he is Jewish. You got that directly from me.""
The fact that he's a Mason does not in any way contradict his supposed jewishness, plenty of jewish Freemasons.
Happy Thanksgiving, Petronski! How's the lovely Mrs. P.?
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