"Kramer" from Seinfeld racist remarks

*Cough* Publicity Stunt *Cough*

Nuff said.

I don't think so. He is stigmatized as Cosmo Kramer. The man has no links to racism, prejudicial thoughts, he is incorporated with slapstick humor and big cigars. Why would he want to direct his career in this manner?

If this were Steve-O, Bam Margera, Knoxville, John Rocker, Dave Chapelle, etc., I would be open to this discussion.

Anyone who is prone to controversy, would not blink an eye at possibly tarnishing their image in order for publicity. But Richards has never been much for controversy.

I think this was a bad day for him that was topped off with some hecklers that boiled his last nerve. Unfortunately his true colors were caught on camera and he is now forced to deal with the ramifications.

I hope this is not his defining moment in life. In twenty years, I hope to remember the man for his work on movies like UHF, or his work on Seinfeld.

Originally posted by chissler

Saying we are sniveling about it is an attempt to further your own opinion, by trampling on ours.

Ah, I'm speaking of snivelling blacks who, instead of improving the product from within, choose to continue to sport the chip.

Originally posted by Landis
Ah, I'm speaking of snivelling blacks who, instead of improving the product from within, choose to continue to sport the chip.

Yes, but there is a large population of blacks who are disgusted by the use of the word. Not everyone condones the use of this reference. So all should not be painted with the brush and ridiculed.

Whether I agree or not, it does not matter, but the intents of the word can not be forgotten either. If someone uses the term as a form of brotherhood, and someone else uses it as a form of hatred, there is a difference.

Double standard? Call it what you wish. My focus here is on the hatred that Richards spewed, not the wording.

As long as blacks continue to use the word, it's fair game. Vocabulary becomes archaic when it is no longer in general use.

If they don't like the word they should stop using it.

Who is they? Why do you continue to push the assumption that all blacks use this term?

I know plenty of black people that would flip their lids if they heard the term used.

Who is to blame?

In two words, Rap Music!

Rappers have tarnished the image of a large percentage of black people. Efforts by X, Medger Evers, MLK are all for not since the popularity of this industry.

Your notion that this term is common is flawed. Inner city gangs that attempt to replicate the images of rappers may use the term often, but is this the crowd that should be representing what black people stand for?

This double standard has been a myth created by non-blacks who are pissed off that they can not bypass political correctness and use the term.

Deal with it. Plenty of blacks do not use the term either.

If the T&C would permit it, I would quote a large portion of a Chris Rock routine. He deciphers between the two quite easily.

Originally posted by Landis
I'm not a racist. I'm sick of wimps whining about ancient history.

Get over it.

Keep in mind, this happened only 40 years ago, during the 60's. Oppression of blacks still occur to this day. If your grandparents had to go through such a harsh time in history, would you let their efforts to stop it die as "ancient history"?

I really thought this guy was hilarious when I watched Seinfeld, I'm really seeing him differently now. There goes his career. What a shame :shk:

Originally posted by Crakeur
Letting your inner klansman out must be somewhat life altering.

No doubt it would be and you just pretty much summed up what I think about this. I really don't see his stand up career taking off. I know I wouldn't pay to see him "perform" cause he obviously hasn't a clue about what it entails.

Maybe he shoulda started off on The Last Comic Standing, they do challenges and learn about heckling

All jokes aside, all I could do was shake my head at this. If all it took was a little heckling from a crowd, and let's be real heckling comes with the territory, for him to lash out like that ? ooooweee makes ya wonder, yes sir it sure do :shk:

I don't see how anybody could rationalize it frankly

Originally posted by Landis
I'm sick of wimps whining about ancient history.

Whining wimps about ancient history?

Are you familiar with history, at all? Ancient history consists of the fall of the Roman empire, not black oppression from 40+ years ago. If slavery was made up of whining wimps, what would constitute a worthy victim?

The Holocaust? What about them? Whining again?

Deal with it right?

I'll refrain from assuming anything about you, but it is quite difficult. Your lack of empathy here concerns me.

Elaborate on how these victims are actually nothing more than whining wimps.



[edit on 23-11-2006 by chissler]

Originally posted by sardion2000
*Cough* Publicity Stunt *Cough*

Nuff said.

Who wants that kind of publicity?:w:

I'm not going to bother reading through all the bull# replies to this topic, I just want to point out the obvious.

Calling a black man a Nigger is wrong. Bottom line. But it is not the end of the world. If the man he was talking to had a problem with his actions, it should have been between the two of them. And the other guy called him a Cracker, I guess thats ok though...

I have heard SO much openly racist remarks directed towards white people. And nobody say anything about it. But the minute some WHITE guy goes off on some jerk who was acting like a... well, an ignorant black guy, then we have to all get together and condemn the man to hell. What an evil bastard he must be, to exercise his freedom of speech in the same way that BLACK comedians do.:shk:

Why not just look the other way and let these two immature men settle things between themselves.

Nicotin1982, your right. Richards dropped the N bomb on these guys and they called him a cracker. Whats the difference? Well other than the historical content of the N word, Richards is a public figure. Thats why their is a current public backlash against him.

If I walked outside and called a black person a N, what would happen? Well I'd probably end up with a black eye or two and spend some time rolling around the ground. But odds are, that would be the end of it. Let's say George Bush walks outside and does the same thing. What would happen to him?

My point exactly. When you live in the public eye, you are expected to carry yourself in a certain manner. The way Richards behaved, is not acceptable. Is it right for what the hecklers done? No, but they do not live in front of the camera on a regular basis.

Personally, I'm not offended in the least by the word cracker or honky. Why? Someone show me some historical content of the word that should leave me offended. Maybe their is some, I don't know, but the words have no impact on me. The N word does carry some impact, so out of respect for fellow man, I refrain from using it.

Richards crossed the line when he responded to heckling with these racial slurs. He opened the flood gates to everything that he had coming to him. Everything that the hecklers said to him after the fact, is regardless. If any of us were bombarded in the manner they were, we would respond with the first thing that came to mind. Obviously racial slurs were on the menu this night.

Richards is not a regular joe. Regular Joes can get away with much more than stars. Do I have sympathy for this? No. They live a lavish lifestyle, it comes with the territory. Having to behave in a respectable manner is not too much to ask.

Originally posted by sardion2000
*Cough* Publicity Stunt *Cough*

Nuff said.

This might not be too far off of the mark. The paper yesterday hypothisized that this might have been staged for the "shock value", a la Borat. If it was, it was ill concieved and blew up in his face.

My question is:

If this was staged, would you respect him even less?

I have a very small amount of respect left for this man, but if this was a staged event, I would have even less. Being a racist is bad enough but allowing people to think your a racist, just to get your name in the papers, well that is uncomprehendable.

Either way,

I can see this having an effect on DVD sales for Seinfield. The fact his mug is plastered on the cover is going to hurt their sales. Somewhat anyways.

Just wanted to drop in with my 2 cents and say that from what I can find, it doesn't appear that Richards was even heckled. I just finished looking at a Today Show interview with the two "hecklers" on Youtube and from what they say, Richards was upset because they came into his show late. They were with a big group and ordering drinks from the waitress, when apparently Richards felt they were being too loud, became incensed and started verbally attacking their entire party using unprovoked racial slurs. They (the "hecklers") say it wasn't until Richards was into the beginning phases of his tirade that they (the "hecklers") even responded to him. Check out the interview for yourselves and draw your own conclusions. The guys seem pretty level headed and believable, to me at least. Now, the possibility is always there that they could be lying just to make their side of the incident look "better", but it would seem to me that they wouldn't risk lying about the incident when it would be so easy to verify with the "waitress" and other patrons. In any case, this whole Richard's incident is truly a sad situation...Damn it Kramer! Why!?:shk:

It appears the two men who were berated with racial slurs are looking for a face-to-face apology from Richards, and maybe a few bucks.

LOS ANGELES -- Two men who say they were insulted by actor-comedian Michael Richards during his racist rant at a comedy club want a personal apology and maybe some money, one of the men and their lawyer said Friday.

Frank McBride and Kyle Doss said they were part of a group of about 20 people who had gathered at West Hollywood's Laugh Factory to celebrate a friend's birthday. According to their attorney, Gloria Allred, they were ordering drinks when Richards berated them for interrupting his act.

When one of their group replied that he wasn't funny, Richards launched into a string of obscenities and repeatedly used the n-word. A video cell phone captured the outburst.

CTV Article

As the article stated, and it was a lasting memory from the video, I can remember hearing the two men scream "That Ain't Funny!". While Richards screamed racial slurs, most of their responses consisted of, "That Ain't Funny!". Although, you can see what is coming from them, and what is coming from their lawyer.

"Our clients were vulnerable," Allred said. "He went after them. He singled them out and he taunted them, and he did it in a closed room where they were captive."

They were captive. Captive? They entered the comedy club on their own two feet, and they walked out on their own two feet. These two men are victims here, but let's not get too dramatic. Quotes like this will only lead to a loss of sympathy, in my opinion.

I agree with the two men looking for a face-to-face apology, Richards should and probably will consent. But, looking for money? I'm not sure what to think on this one yet. I'm sure this recent news will spark some discussion between our members.

Do the men deserve a cash settlement or not?

Originally posted by chissler
As the article stated, and it was a lasting memory from the video, I can remember hearing the two men scream "That Ain't Funny!". While Richards screamed racial slurs, most of their responses consisted of, "That Ain't Funny!". Although, you can see what is coming from them, and what is coming from their lawyer.

"Our clients were vulnerable," Allred said. "He went after them. He singled them out and he taunted them, and he did it in a closed room where they were captive."

They were captive. Captive? They entered the comedy club on their own two feet, and they walked out on their own two feet. These two men are victims here, but let's not get too dramatic. Quotes like this will only lead to a loss of sympathy, in my opinion.

I agree with the two men looking for a face-to-face apology, Richards should and probably will consent. But, looking for money? I'm not sure what to think on this one yet. I'm sure this recent news will spark some discussion between our members.

Do the men deserve a cash settlement or not?

Interesting. Did these guys troll him from engagement to engagement until he snapped? I can see the motivation there. I'm not saying that's what happened but getting a quick buck is certainly motivation. BTW, I agree with them, I have never thought that Richards was funny, even on Seinfeld.

Well I thought Kramer was hilarious. Seinfeld was a great combination of characters. George and Kramer were two of the greatest sitcom characters of all time.

Richards as a stand up though? Not much of a fan.

I think my problem with the latest development of this story, is the push for money. Everything that happens in our society today comes back to the almighty dollar. Someone insults you, give me money! Car accident, your fault, gimme money!

I think I disagree with their attempt to gain financially.

an update to the saga.

first, to the clown who accused jews of defending him because Richards is jewish, he isn't. He's been hit with accusations of anti-semitism from part of his act. Seems he was doing something about rednecks and he was mocking jews in the redneck character. This was prior to the confrontation with the black guys but he was still doing the character. It doesn't make his actions forgiveable but it gives an explanation as to where the hanging upside down remark came from. Still wrong to say what he did.

second, the guys who he screamed at stated that they wanted compensation for their "pain and suffering." Richards has finally agreed to a face to face with two of the guys so he can offer a formal apology. According to his publicist, a settlement is possible. These guys are milking this for some fame and fortune. That is pathetic. Hopefully they will take this money and donate it to something appropriate.

Third, a judge will mediate the sit down to determine if any other action is needed. I have no idea what this means but it might be a necessity from Richards' team to avoid a shakedown, which is exactly what #2 is.

He was wrong in his actions. His career both in stand up and acting are probably all but dead. They were both almost non-existant anyway. Richards is being punished for his actions by all the bad press and the public disgust. Making him pay these two guys because he called them names is wrong. I've been called many things over the course of my life. Hell, if I could get a buck for every name my wife called me that I didn't like, I'd be sitting on a nice pile of cash.


Mental note, call the attorney who is representing the black guys.