Richards has angry outburst at club

[oberliner]

LOS ANGELES -
Michael Richards stunned a comedy club audience, shouting racial epithets at people who heckled him during a stand-up routine.

The 57-year-old actor-comedian, best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's eccentric neighbor Kramer on the hit TV show "Seinfeld," was performing at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood Friday night when he launched into the verbal rampage, according to video posted on TMZ.com.

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

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

He then paced across the stage taunting the men for interrupting his show, peppering his speech with racial slurs and profanities.

"You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now mother------. Throw his a-- out. He's a n-----!" Richards shouts before repeating the racial epithet over and over again.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061120/ap_en_tv/people_michael_richards

[radwriter0555]

1. WOW. he'll never work again.

I always like to know who the racists are, clear and up front.

[zappa_parappa]

2. Such a shame...he always made me laugh

sucks to find out hes a racist...Now my view of him is tainted...i'll probably still laugh at Kramer though.

[ironflange]

5. Sure, Kramer will always be funny

But did you ever watch "The Michael Richards Show?" It was excruciating.

[zappa_parappa]

6. Yeah, that was pretty bad...now I'm kinda glad he failed

but i still laugh my ass off at UHF too!

[ironflange]

3. Watch the vid here

http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape/

It gets kinda scary, the guy seems to do a complete meltdown as audience members flee. Seinfeld is on Letterman tonite, I wonder if the topic will come up.

[medeak]

7. you beat me to it... started out as sarcasm me thinks

then got quite ugly at the end....no Sienfeld star can take being called a "has been"

[medeak]

4. video is out at TMZ.com n/t

[Zomby Woof]

8. I just learned about this in GD

I am sick to my stomach, and disheartened immensely.

I am well aware that racism is alive and well, but I reserve the right to be shocked and saddended - I will never be desensitized to such a raw and naked display of anger and hate as that. I would hope none of us are. We must confront it, and allow ourselves whatever emotions such behavior elicits.

He obviously needs help, and I hope he gets it.

[Westegg]

13. What help would you suggest?/NT

[L A Woman]

9. they said he wasn't funny because he was a WHITE guy

not an excuse, I know, but it will be the number one talking point of his defenders. he's another one of those white guys (and i've seen several on DU) who think there's an epidemic of "reverse racism" in this country and they are "victims."

i don't agree, BUT i do think it's interesting that every national news source has omitted that part of the story. One article said the audience members were "playfully heckling him." The above article says they were shouting at him that he wasn't funny.

What they said was, "WHITE GUYS aren't funny."

Like I said, his reaction was inexcusable, but why omit that?

[Arkana]

10. Whoa.

I don't think I'll ever be able to look at Kramer the same way again.

[ClusterFreak]

11. I don't think even Art Vandelay would hire him now. n/t

:wow:

[MrCoffee]

14. and you want to be my latex salesman.

[ClusterFreak]

15. ROFL!

:rofl:

[Deja Q]

12. Mel Gibson can hire him for one of his movies...

x(