We told you earlier about Michael Richards' racial outburst at a comedy club over the weekend, and it was unfortunate timing, since Jerry Seinfeld was going to be on Letterman tonight and the 7th season DVD set was coming out tomorrow. But now comes word that Richards will actually appear on the show during Seinfeld's segment, via satellite, to explain his side of the story.
Defamer has the details, including a report from someone who was at the taping of the show, which airs on CBS at 11:35.
I guess you could say that it's a spoiler, since you read what Richards is going to say, but I'm sure it's still worth watching.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-20-2006 @ 7:46PM
Dwacon said...
I heard about that on a local radio station. Was hoping to hear a clip, but was only in the car for a half hour and they were dragging it out -- milking it for prolly the DJ's full 4-hour shift.
I guess that episode where Kramer dated a black girl and burned himself with a tanning lamp was true. The girl's father said, "You ain't black. You a damn fool!"
--
dwacon
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11-20-2006 @ 7:42PM
dny said...
Whoa. I wonder what happened during the first half of his act to cause him to flip out so badly. As Jerry would say, "That's a shame."
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11-20-2006 @ 7:57PM
David said...
I take the bus to get to school and everyday there is this fat ass who only says three words to his friends, shit, fuck, niggar. So it's ok for him to say it because he's black and not the racist Michael Richards? I'm not saying I think what he said was right, he's a dumbass and he shouldn't have said the shit. But if a black guy gets pissed off for getting called a niggar by a white guy was isn't it the same if another black guy did? My point is no one should use the word and they do, how about we all stop using the word?
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11-20-2006 @ 8:45PM
Angel said...
@David - There's this thing called context. Is that black guy on your bus called his friend a "nigger" out of anger and referring to lynching? I'm pretty sure he's not.
There are certain people in the black community who use the word "nigga" as a term of endearment. Surely, you are smart enough to see the difference between that and a white man who uses "nigger" to insult and humiliate? Surely you understand the history behind the word and why it's offensive when used by certain people?
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11-20-2006 @ 9:17PM
dny said...
People are a lot more racist than you might think. I'm part Chinese but don't look it. I'm also part white and spanish. How many times have I heard someone refer to someone else as a chink or a gook, a spick or wetback, whiteboy or cracker in my presence? More often than I care to admit. White people say it, black people say it, and asians of all races definately say it. People are racist, that's a fact.
The difference between what Michael Richards did and what most people do is that he said it out loud to the person he was talking about while being recorded. Most people just keep that kind of talk among their friends that allow them to get away with it. Should any of it be encouraged or accepted? Hell no. But the fact remains that people are still racist as hell and this is just a little reminder of what people think inside their heads.
I think being of very mixed heritage has given me a unique perspective on people's racist ideas. I've sat in on conversations where people talk freely about what they really think about others. Let me tell you, living in California, one of the most diverse places in America, has make it very clear that people are still intolerant as hell.
Let me be the first to say that he's probably just as racist as most people in America, black, white asian, and everyone in between. Does it make it right? Not one bit. But before you start pretending the world is rainbows and puppydogs with people like him as the exception to the rule, realize that most people are shallow, narrow minded, jealous, vindictive beings.
Yeah I might be jaded, but I've had the chance to see how people really feel about other races and this is nothing new to me. It's unfortunate that he was was out of control, i'll never enjoy Seinfeld the same way again, but at least this gets people talking about how lame it is to use race as an insult. Low blow Kramer, good luck with your career.
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11-20-2006 @ 9:29PM
Brian said...
As a white man, I have to say I'm ashamed at what Michael Richards said. The reasoning behind what he said and the fact that he chose those words does NOT make a difference those words should NEVER have come out of his mouth or any other white persons mouth. In todays society, why cant we all just appreciate each other for who we are instead of labling one another. His career was screwed before this....but I hope to God it's over now.
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11-20-2006 @ 9:57PM
Yeehaw said...
Yeah, and fuck all you YANKS cos you're the worst.
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11-20-2006 @ 11:53PM
RT said...
As an Asian person watching his little tirade on TV, I was beyond offended. I don't care how hurt he was by an ex .. blah blah blah...That was uncalled for. I hope whatever career he had ends with this. His apology cannot take away his racism and ignorance. I prefer that people like him not last too long in the public eye.
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11-20-2006 @ 11:35PM
Jim said...
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute, yet I cannot look away."
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11-20-2006 @ 10:45PM
David said...
My point was no one should use the word. I don't give a fuck if he was black talking to his black friends, it's a bad word.
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11-21-2006 @ 12:13AM
SJ said...
I just finished watching him on Letterman. Definitely awkward. It was weird when people started laughing when he was being extremely serious...Seinfeld also says that it's not funny and stop laughing.
He did visibly look shaken up, and tried to apologize. Still, you have to think where this rage comes from. I do think he is a racist, though he says he isn't.
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11-24-2006 @ 2:48PM
END said...
To dny: WELL SAID! and that is coming from an African American woman.
To a person that pays attention to the happening in this world, and does not choose to be nieve so that he does not have to face reality; you have no choice but to be jaded. Society makes us that way :(
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11-21-2006 @ 1:50AM
Denise said...
I find it interesting that people, such as Jerry Seinfeld, are being apologists for Richards. Shouldn't he be ostracized the way Mel Gibson was? Is it any different insulting Jews than insulting blacks? I don't think so. Either forgive them both since they've apologized, or condemn them both. You can't have it both ways.
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11-21-2006 @ 7:55AM
Angel said...
@David - You asked why a black guy wouldn't be upset when he's called the n-word by another black guy. I tried to explain to you why, but obviously you can't grasp the reasoning behind it. Your inability to communicate without using offensive language is quite humorous especially when your POINT is about something being a bad word...lol
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11-21-2006 @ 8:42AM
Viki said...
If he was drunk or on drugs, WHO CARES. He still said it and he meant it. Down with Cramer. jerk
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11-21-2006 @ 11:30AM
1L said...
Angel and David - I have to agree with David on this one. It is a word that should NOT be used by anyone. EVER!
1L
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11-21-2006 @ 12:03PM
END said...
to 1L
Yes, it should never be said! but you cannot equate the two, because Michael Richards used the word to degrade. he also spoke of lynching and made other racially "insensitive" statements.
People should be held accountable for there "indiscretions" (ignorance), rather than Spreading around responsibility to avoid guilt!
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11-21-2006 @ 1:35PM
cheyene said...
I as a black american woman also feel that the work should not be used at ALL...we fought to hard to get what is supposed to be civil rights, anything less and to use the "n" word, in my middle agged opinion, is a regression. People are all racist. It simply is someone who loves their race. I also must admit, what a lot of people may choose not to admit that I have made negative racist comments about all other racist in my past, in my own social group..that is where is usually starts. Lastly, the most hurtful part of his comments, were " 50 years ago, you would have been hung upside down with a fork up your **ss". That was a horrible thing to say, to refer to lynching. That terribly disturbed lots of people. Black, white included, and black white and all got up and left as they were equally disgusted. He is lucky that he left out of that place alive.
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11-21-2006 @ 7:30PM
RT said...
Cheyene, I totally agree with you!!!I am not African American but when I saw the clip of him saying the "N" word and making the those subhuman statements, I felt SICK to my stomach and then I thought "WOW.. he's gonna get a beat down tonight!!!" ( Apologetically, I was hoping he'd get some too!! But 2 wrongs don't make a right!!)Anyway, I saw his little apology bit on Letterman. I am not convinced with his apology and Jerry Seinfeld should not be telling anyone to be quiet. I won't be buying Seinfeld's DVDs (esp not putting $$ in Michael Richard's pocket)
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11-25-2006 @ 9:29PM
Patrick said...
You know, you're all being very unforgiving and not taking into consideration that he apologized, said that he is not a racist, and also the fact that nothing like this has ever been heard of from him before. He's worked with black people on Seinfeld without issue. Jerry Seinfeld, who knows him better than any of us, has said that Michael didn't mean what he said.
You know, it's very easy for people to lose their temper and revert to outrageousness in the heat of their rage. Michael Richards lost his head and said some very offensive things. He knew they were offensive when he said them, but that doesn't mean that he MEANT what he said.
I believe that Michael Richards is a very funny comedian, he's led a very successful career, and I hope he recovers from this incident with public understanding. I doubt that many of you could withstand being in front of a lot of hecklers without losing your head and saying something inappropriate that you didn't actually mean to say.
I don't think he is a racist. I think he made a mistake. And he has apologized sincerely.
And all of this stuff about how he's lucky to have left there alive, and how you wish he would have gotten beaten up, give me a break. That 'tough guy' nonsense is just as childish as his outburst.
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