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.
In my opinion, until blacks stop referring to themselves playfully using the same slur, the argument about its impact will fall on deaf ears in many quarters.
Hasn't he learned from the Gibson affair? All Kramer has to is criticize Bush and he'll be considered rehabilitated and forgiven.
LOL
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He already did.
Is that an actual quote? If so, that's hilarious.
I saw George Wallace on stage once; pretty funny guy.
I'm pretty sure Richards really did regret the incident. He has apologized. He should not continue to apologize -- what does that achieve? He should recognize that his entertainment career is over. He has millions of dollars, and he should retire to Idaho and live quietly. No comeback attempts, please.
Hahaha... Jesse Jackson is going to shake him down for all he's worth.
When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. All Richards has to do is to lay low for a while and let the public short term memory do its voodoo. He made a $million per episode for probably at least 4 of the 9 years the show ran, that's plenty.
Alternatively, he should immediately announce that he's starting production on a TV comedy series called "Michael Richards: Anger Management" and just let the hoopla over that play out.
Oh please. Richards' comments were mean-spirited and obnoxious, but somehow I think the Republic will survive...
Kramer needs to beg for forgiveness. And he needs to put some beg into it.
... and Sharpton as well!
When those two get through with him, he'll be penniless!
Michael Richards trying the good ole racial payoff routine. Don't think it'll work.
How sad; they're dooming themselves.
Comedian George Wallace told the Jeff Foxx team at WRKS (98.7 FM) that he worked with Jerry Seinfeld in getting Richards a chance to apologize Monday night on the David Letterman show.
"It was important for him to get right out and say he's sorry," said Wallace. "Jerry dropped his own standup bit on the show to make room for Michael.
"But this will damage him for a long time. You can go on TV every day and apologize and people will say you didn't."
Asked how he felt about Richards' outburst, Wallace - who is black - cracked, "It's about time someone told those Negroes to shut up."
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He is a very funny guy. I feel like I've been laughing with him for thirty years. I saw him a few times live. He's an old pro.
He always wanted to be a comedian even when he was a little boy. But he went and got two degrees in marketing and sales at Akron (Ohio) way back when. Then he went off to try his hand at what he really wanted to do. I'm glad that he did.
He IS a very funny guy.
Surprise, is one of the most important ingredients of great humor.
Yep.... see # 15.
What's with the other comments he made about the Jews"?
Routinely hear the n word used by Blacks to other Blacks in Boston !!!
Sometimes hear the work honky used by Black and Hispanic high school students toward white high school students... also hear the word Spic used by Blacks, Whites, Hispanic students toward Hispanics.
The only students who appear to be politically correct and polite at all times are Asian students.
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