Kramer pulls a Mel Gibson

[OILFAN #81]

This happened on Friday Night and I read he went back to the same place and performed on Saturday Night as well. Wierd.

Jerry Seinfeld gave a statement over the incident as well.

__________________________________________________ ___________


Michael Richards -- who played Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld -- went absolutely nuts on Friday night during a performance at the Laugh Factory in LA and started throwing around the "N bomb." The whole incident was caught on tape.
Apparently an African-American audience member -- and some friends -- playfully heckled Michael from the nosebleed cheap seats saying "you're not funny." All of a sudden, he went crazy, unleashing an endless supply of racist remarks before walking off the stage.

"Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f--king fork up your ass," the "comedian" screamed. "You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now motherf--ker. Throw his ass out. He's a n--ger! He's a n--ger! He's a ni--ger! A n--ger, look, there's a n--ger!"

In a statement to Extra, Michael's former boss, Jerry Seinfeld, said he's "sick" over Michael's tirade. "I'm sure Michael is also sick over this horrible, horrible mistake," Jerry said. "It is so extremely offensive. I feel terrible for all the people who have been hurt."

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

Your reaction has to do with political correctness. Calling someone some derogatory comments in a heated exchange is what it is. The sky isn't falling. No one got hurt........


........In any case there was a verbal battle taking place and Richards said more than he probably wished he had. I for one am not going to label him a "racist" for a moment of misjudgment.

My reaction has nothing to do with political correctness and everyhing to do with the way you throw the term around here. in this case, calling someone some derogatory comments in a heated exchange is what it is. Racist. If a person uses racist terms, they are a racist. Why on Earth would you possibly argue that unless you are okay with what he said.

[SpitFire40]

Nothing in the world outside of molesting children or murder can make me hate Kramer...

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

This happened on Friday Night and I read he went back to the same place and performed on Saturday Night as well. Wierd.

Jerry Seinfeld gave a statement over the incident as well.

He has since been banned from the club.

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

It's not the choice of words that defines racism...it's the fact that race was brought into this at all. Would this have been any different if Richards had called out those "black" guys? It's the intent, not the words that are used.

I totally agree with this statement. There was no reason to bring race into it at all. Maybe he had a right to be mad about what they were saying, especially if he just happened to be a little 'sensitive' that night (for whatever reason), but what does that have to do with the colour of their skin? Nothing!

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Barnes

My reaction has nothing to do with political correctness and everyhing to do with the way you throw the term around here. in this case, calling someone some derogatory comments in a heated exchange is what it is. Racist. If a person uses racist terms, they are a racist. Why on Earth would you possibly argue that unless you are okay with what he said.

Your world is that black and white (no pun intended)? People make regretable mistakes in all sorts of ways, say stupid things all the time. You've never made one offensive remark to anyone, any group of people, ever?? BS. We're all human. There are different levels of hate. Just because someone has used the word, ni*ger, fag, raghead, cracker, honky, wetback, doesn't mean they absolutely hate every person of that race. It could just be anger taking over, and clouding their judgement. If there is a common pattern of using that language, or inciting some type of hatred to a particular group, then yes, that is racist. There are black people who use the word cracker all the time and never get called on it. Somehow they aren't deemed to be racist.

I dunno, maybe im too forgiving. I don't like what he said, at all, it was stupid. But i'm not ready to brand him a complete racist over it. And I'm a minority so I've dealt with and experienced racism plenty of times in my life.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Barnes

He has since been banned from the club.

That's great and I hope other clubs follow and do the same.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I really find comments like this interesting. In my mind, for someone to be a racist there needs to be some sort of act against a specific group. For example, if he didnt let the black folks into the show; that would be racist. Im not sure calling someone the n-word is racist if that is the act.

Of course, someone who wouldnt let blacks into a show is likely to use the n-word so I guess people just associate the word with racists? I dont know. But calling someone a racist just because they used a word seems a bit over the top to me. I think that label gets thrown around much to liberally.

Regerdless, as a huge Seinfeld fan this entire incident is sickening.

I agree. To me, it wasn't a mistake though. He kept going on, and on, and on about it. It wasn't just a slip of the tongue. He was ****ed...he messed up. I seriously doubt he's a racist though. I really believe a lot of people are prejudice, but how many people would harm another person because of their colour. I don't think he would do that, but I could be wrong. Calling him a racist is a bit premature.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Your world is that black and white (no pun intended)? People make regretable mistakes in all sorts of ways, say stupid things all the time. You've never made one offensive remark to anyone, any group of people, ever?? BS. We're all human. There are different levels of hate. Just because someone has used the word, ni*ger, fag, raghead, cracker, honky, wetback, doesn't mean they absolutely hate every person of that race. It could just be anger taking over, and clouding their judgement. If there is a common pattern of using that language, or inciting some type of hatred to a particular group, then yes, that is racist. There are black people who use the word cracker all the time and never get called on it. Somehow they aren't deemed to be racist.

I dunno, maybe im too forgiving. I don't like what he said, at all, it was stupid. But i'm not ready to brand him a complete racist over it. And I'm a minority so I've dealt with and experienced racism plenty of times in my life.

...if you don't mind me askin', what's a raghead and a wetback???

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by fleury

...if you don't mind me askin', what's a raghead and a wetback???

I believe a wetback is a slur used for an illegal mexican while a raghead is a slur used at Arabs, Sikhs and Muslims for wearing headwear.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by fleury

...if you don't mind me askin', what's a raghead and a wetback???

Raghead would be towards people who wear turbans of any sort, usually middle eastern or indian people. Wetback is a term used against mexicans. Not exactly sure where the term wetback comes from though.

[Dion]

More in regards to his banning from the club.

Comedian Michael "Kramer" Richards Goes Into Racial Tirade, Banned From Laugh Factory

By: Mariel Concepción - November 20, 2006

Comedian Michael Richards, best known for his role as "Kramer" on the hit TV show Seinfeld, went into a racial tirade, yelling out the word "N*gger" numerous times during a performance at Los Angeles' Laugh Factory last Friday (Nov. 17), and it all was caught on tape.

"My understanding is that there was a group of people that were excited Michael Richards had come on stage, and were talking about how great he was as Kramer," explained Laugh Factory's Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Jackie Plaza. "Mr. Richards misinterpreted what they said as heckling, and went off on a racial tirade."


"Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f***ing fork up your ass," Richards yelled as the cameras started rolling. "You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now mother######er! Throw his ass out. He's a n*gger! He's a n*gger! He's a n*gger! A n*gger, look, there's a n*gger!"

One of the men who was the object of Richard's racial insults was outraged, shouting back "That's un-f***ing called for, ain't necessary."
After the three-minute long tirade, the video shows the majority of the audience members walking out.

The next day, Richards asked if he could return to the comedy club to publicly apologize to the audience, and even requested some of the prior day's patrons be invited, but instead he did his normal routine and did not apologize.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Raghead would be towards people who wear turbans of any sort, usually middle eastern or indian people. Wetback is a term used against mexicans. Not exactly sure where the term wetback comes from though.

Might have something to do with the movie "Wetback" in '53 about mexican immigrants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetback

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by fleury;647423[B

]I agree. To me, it wasn't a mistake though. He kept going on, and on, and on about it. It wasn't just a slip of the tongue.[/B] He was ****ed...he messed up. I seriously doubt he's a racist though. I really believe a lot of people are prejudice, but how many people would harm another person because of their colour. I don't think he would do that, but I could be wrong. Calling him a racist is a bit premature.

Your totally contridicted yourself there IMO. I agree with the first bolded statement whole heartedly, but if it was not a mistake, and he kept going on and on that makes him a racist, case closed.

I can perhaps accept the man saying it once in a fit of rage, but going on and on just shows he is a racist and the rage he felt made him show his true colours.

If you disagree with me, ask yourself, if you are a white person would you EVER no matter what the circumstances were, EVER say those things Richards said to a black man? I know I never would, I might swear a bue streak, I might even charge into the audience and throw a punch, but NOTHING would ever cause most people to use racial slurs, ESSPECIALLY repeatadly as Richards did.

There is no grey area here, if you do what Richards did, you ARE a racist, no two ways about it.

[Hakan]

Wow.

Just wow.

I can't believe this thread.

So we are getting to the point that calling someone a n-word is not racist because, for some reason, it's not an action?

:help:

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Wow.

Just wow.

I can't believe this thread.

So we are getting to the point that calling someone a n-word is not racist because, for some reason, it's not an action?

:help:

Thank you, a voice of reason. I thought I was going crazy and the concept of tolerance had totally been eliminated from the world over the weekend.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Wow.

Just wow.

I can't believe this thread.

So we are getting to the point that calling someone a n-word is not racist because, for some reason, it's not an action?

:help:

Agree. It is a racist remark no doubt about that.

[jzA]

As sure as the sun will rise tommorow, there is, and always will be racist people.

Although I dont think Micheal Richards rant in any way racist. I'd imagine the people he was talking about did some stuff during the show to reallyn annoy him and make him mad, people dont just blow there tops off and throw slurs around for fun.

To the poster that said they were suprised richards was still living after the show, puhhhleeeaassseee.

I think the black man calling mike a honkey cracker should be taken in the same context as mike calling the black man a *****r.

After all its all the same isnt it? A racial slur?

Thats just my opinion anyways..

[redforever]

Originally Posted by fleury

I agree. To me, it wasn't a mistake though. He kept going on, and on, and on about it. It wasn't just a slip of the tongue. He was ****ed...he messed up. I seriously doubt he's a racist though. I really believe a lot of people are prejudice, but how many people would harm another person because of their colour. I don't think he would do that, but I could be wrong. Calling him a racist is a bit premature.

Yes, he did go on and on and on. It was not just one "slip of the tongue" as many have inferred.

However, what does not doing another person harm because of their color have to do with not being prejudiced or racist? During all the years of segregation in the USA, many never "hurt" the other color. Were they not being discriminatory in their actions, prejudiced in their actions, racist in their actions when they never allowed that other color on their buses, when they never allowed that other color in their schools, when they never allowed that other color in their restaurants, when they never allowed that other color at their water fountains, when they never allowed that other color to live in their neighborhoods......... ???

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by jzA

As sure as the sun will rise tommorow, there is, and always will be racist people.

Although I dont think Micheal Richards rant in any way racist. I'd imagine the people he was talking about did some stuff during the show to reallyn annoy him and make him mad, people dont just blow there tops off and throw slurs around for fun.

To the poster that said they were suprised richards was still living after the show, puhhhleeeaassseee.

I think the black man calling mike a honkey cracker should be taken in the same context as mike calling the black man a *****r.

After all its all the same isnt it? A racial slur?

Thats just my opinion anyways..

People who are NOT racist NEVER throw around RACIST slurs period. I dont understand where this "he is not racist because he was mad" argument is coming from. WHO CARES if he was mad, people who are not racist do not make racial slurs, repeatadly no less.