Kramer Is Racist

[Ian]

wtf?

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_324111945.html

The man who played "Kramer" on "Seinfeld" can now be seen in an Internet video, hurling racial epithets at black hecklers at a Los Angeles comedy club.

Michael Richards stunned the audience at the Laugh Factory on Friday night with his response to the people who heckled him during his stand-up routine.

After two black audience members shouted at Richards that he wasn't funny, Richards responded, "Shut up." He described in graphic terms what would have been done to them "50 years ago." He then paced across the stage taunting the men for interrupting his show, repeatedly using the N-word to describe them.

The thing is, if he was black himself or even hispanic or asian, it would probably be okay.

[stix]

it can also be seen here:

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

Performers have had to deal with people talking and "hecklers" for as long as people have been performing. It is no excuse for going into a complete racist attack. Tells us a lot about Michael Richards. Then there was the made-for-TV apology on Letterman last night, which was connected with a Jerry Seinfeld appearance and Letterman plugging the "Seinfeld Season 7" DVD. So is the DVD connected with Letterman's network? Obviously somebody doesn't want the DVD to suffer any in sales. So freaking transparent.

A new member for Mel Gibson's club.

[JamieW]

The difference between Michael Richards tirade and say something like Chapelle or Chris Rock getting into race issues is that they are making jokes that uses race as a backdrop for humor. There is even wit in involved. Michael Richards wasn't using it as a backdrop, nor was there humor or wit involved, it was the focus and reason for his anger and hate.

It is also much more allowable to make fun of any group that you can consider yourself a part of. Bush jokes from an American? Hilarious. Bush jokes from a Frenchman? How dare those cowards make fun of my President. You must have suffered with in order to laugh with.

Seriously, I hope Michael Richards chokes on a bag of dicks.

[LoneWolf]

Much better ways to respond to hecklers than racist vitriol.

When a friend of mine was in a band, he'd respond to hecklers by walking up to them and saying loudly, "Hey dude, we don't come to your job and knock the [french] fries out of your hands". I always found that one pretty amusing.