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- threepio, on 10/12/2007, -29/+200Anger management issues? Yes. Racist? Probably not.
We all ***** up in life from time to time - the question we have to ask ourselves is - are we too sensitive and too self absorbed to accept an apology? - Providence, on 10/12/2007, -24/+99His apology was very mature. I respect that. I forgive him.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+78Actually, I will take a clumsy spur of the moment apology like this over one of those fake "IF anyone was offended by my actions, I apologize." Richards' apology was far more sincere than almost EVERY celebrity apology I have ever heard. Those "If I offended" apologies are basically blaming the victims for being offended.
- Enchirito, on 10/12/2007, -12/+66yes, let's all look at two soundbytes and pass judgement.
- sfmman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+55Here's the full interview:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3886837296111594087 - showgun, on 10/12/2007, -3/+39"So Chris Rock can talk about "*****" and "crackas" but when a white guy does it, it's racist? Pft." - Crash
Did Michael Richards original comment sound anything like a self depricating comedy routine?
If you seriously are trying to relate an obvious comedy sketch which explores the difference between race in society with a racial tirade just because it uses the same words, then you have a serious problem. Whether you appreciate Chris Rock's style of humor or not, there is an obvious difference in the intent of the two deliveries. One a washed up comedian's hate, the other an attempt at edgy socio-political entertainment. - michaelczhang, on 10/12/2007, -3/+37Well he just did. I think what you mean is, theres no forgiving for something like that...
That's up to you. - RamanujanRedux, on 10/12/2007, -3/+37Full video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3886837296111594087&sourceid=docidfeed&hl=en
- nonesupplied, on 10/12/2007, -6/+36What he said is probably what happened. If he was a big name in Hollywood, today, he'd be forced to come up with some cheesy apology, kiss a few black babies, and release a sex tape called "Bangin' Black Chicks". He doesn't really have to save himself, though. I think this all came from him, not some writer. It certainly felt real.
- japostoles, on 10/12/2007, -5/+33It was a decent apology.
This "fire" that he talks about is in all of us (not necessarily as a race thing) .. it's the same thing that causes some men to call someone they love a "bitch", or someone they care about to "f--- off", or what drives some people to hit another person they care about, etc, etc. Some people just can't handle anger well, and if he was being heckled and for whatever reason couldn't handle it, his anger bubbled up and he said things that were intended to hurt. That seems to be a reaction a lot of people have, and celebrities are human, too.
I'm not saying it's right, nor do I think it was called for, I'm just saying that at that moment in time he said what he considered the worst possible thing he could say to whoever was heckling him.. if it was some chick I'm sure he would have called her a fat c--t or something similar.
It was definitely shocking to see him acting serious though, but it was cool to see a celebrity sincerely apologize rather than spin some BS story as to why it happened or what he really meant. - Jolls, on 10/12/2007, -6/+34have you ever even seen/heard a real apology? They are chopped up. A fake apology is an eloquent one.
- InfamousX241, on 10/12/2007, -13/+40Apology accepted. I still love you, Michael Richards.
- headzoo, on 10/12/2007, -6/+31"How is saying that "50 years ago you would be hangin from a tree with a fork in your ass" not racist?"
Could simply mean he was saying the most hurtful thing he could. I say a lot of things to insult people, but that doesn't mean I believe what I'm saying. I'm just saying whatever is going to have the most impact, and hurt the person the most. - darkdaedra, on 10/12/2007, -19/+43I agree with you threepio. This is vastly different from the Mel Gibson incident where Gibson was drunk and spouted racial slurs about Jews. With Richards, he was in a hightened state induced by a wild stage persona. I think he was angry and then with the racial slurs he was somehow trying to be funny and the ***** thing just got worse and worse. No, it was not funny. Yes, it's good that he apologized. However, to call the guy racist based on this is unsubstantiated.
It's pretty clear that his career is over, though. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25Well, you have to realize that people in David Letterman's audience are so trianed to laugh at things that are not funny (like the monologue, his comeduy bits like Will it Float, his berating that girl assistant, etc.) that they sometimes don't realize when they are NOT supposed to laugh at hte unfunny thing they are seeing.
- whereswayne, on 10/12/2007, -4/+22Hollywood is a machine, his only recourse to save his career (what's left of it...) is to apologize ASAfP to as wide an audience as possible. He's probably not a racist, but it looked like he had NO qualms using the "N" word in Los Angeles. As mentioned above, he needs some serious anger management counseling. He even got pretty upset in his apology.
- canadianguy33, on 10/12/2007, -12/+29Kramer's apology was kind of strange. Here's the full transcript
http://www.bigshotcelebrity.com/blog/index.php/the-michael-richards-apology-on-letterman-transcript - n0sferatu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18@Jastaphy,
Exactly. It's so easy for people to chalk it up to "when you're mad your true feelings come to the surface.". In reality, It's more like when you're mad you will say the things you think will be most hurtful to those you are mad at. That being said I think his apology was very sincere. He obviously knows what he said was extremely hurtful to everyone there and he's upset about that. I think the way he is handling the aftermath says a lot about his character. Unlike *ughhhmmm* Mr. Gibson pulling the alcohol card shifting the blame. Mr. Richards put the blame directly where it belongs, on himself. - sunnyd, on 10/12/2007, -13/+28Here's his tirade again in case you missed the post earlier today, you decide if his apology is sincere:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UomfLKQr57U - darkdaedra, on 10/12/2007, -4/+19Saying "Afro American" is irresponsible? Are we seriously going to critique the guy who just used the n word for saying "Afro American"? It's not the brightest thing in the world. However, I don't bitch about being called Caucasian and I can tell you I have no ancestors that I know of from Caucasia. ***** Sapiens are, on the other hand, all from Africa.
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Thanks.. the full unedited version is much better. I hate it when they cut important videos down to 10 seconds.
..now I want to see the jokes Letterman made about him.. - pixelate, on 10/12/2007, -5/+19We all know Kramer loves fried chicken, I don't even see what the issue is
- shadus, on 10/12/2007, -7/+20After watching that I gotta say... I don't think it would have mattered what race the guy was. Dude was *bent* he seriously needs to get off the meth.
- warlordwiggles, on 09/07/2008, -11/+24@mcstewart37
I said it in the original story when someone brought it up and I'll say it again.
I'm pretty Goddamn tired of black people playing the slavery card, mainly because there's not a people in the whole history of the world who weren't at one point subjected to adversity based solely on the culture they were born into.
If we were to get into a pissing contest, which we wont, my ancestors, the Scots and the Irish, the TERRIBLE WHITE MAN, were subjected to slavery longer than any other people in the history of the world. You'd be off this playground with your couple hundred years of adversity in tow so fast your head would spin. - Sp4nk, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14I think a lot of people are mistaking "racism" for simple anger and stupidity. When someone really sets you off and you explode, what do you do? You try and take anything you can find offensive and toss it at them, such as a fat remark at an overweight person or calling someone an *****. We've all done it in some form or another and I'm sure most of the white people who've posted here have had the same type of tirade in the privacy of their own minds. Blacks, the same with whites. If ***** wasn't such a taboo word, it would've been a different one.
He got angry and said some stupid *****. That's all. It wasn't his words that should be considered offensive, but his actions: getting ticked off and yelling at the crowd. As a comedian, he simply should've handled it differently instead of going off the deep end. ***** happens. The only people who should be offended are those who forked out bones for a ***** show that ended early. - jiggidy, on 10/12/2007, -6/+17I just saw this on Letterman. I can tell he was at a loss for words. I think he just got far too carried away in the act. Although, I do commend him for this, I found it strange how he tried to bring politics into the matter. He tried to get the blacks on his side by commenting on Katrina, then he tried to get the whites on his by referring to Iraq. I understand he's trying hard, but thats not a great base for an apology. However, I do think he did well in apologizing and deserves to be forgiven.
- cwalk, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13He apologized and asked for forgiveness, honestly, what more can the man do?
I bet each and every one of us has said stupid things in the past, much of which were probably blown out of proportion. I know I've done it a couple of times, and I only wished that I had the courage to apologize shortly after the fact. - pixelate, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13i think calling it publicity for the DVD is a bit much, but i agree that this is more something he *had* to do at this point. It's not about looking within yourself and finding the courage to apologize or whatever-- are you kidding, if he wanted any shot of being accepted by people at all anymore, he had to come out and say something.
The fact that the apology was kind of disjointed and winding (read/watch that full transcript link, don't digg him down!), along with some of the specific comments he made that night, make me wonder what's really behind all of it. People seem to be digging down anyone who doesn't love Kramer unequivocally, ah well.
I think onstage he got caught up in some weird energy he was trying to milk to see if it went anywhere, and he ended up just sounding like a raving loon. I hope there wasn't any actual malice behind it, it's good that he apologized. But let's not turn him into a hero now. - Nipplelesshorse, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14I don't see why anyone wouldn't accept his apology. Using racial slurs when you're overly emotional does not mean you're a racist. I'm sure many of us have uttered similar slurs when overcome by road rage. Does that make us racist? Probably not. It just means we're human, and that when we're pissed off we look for the harshest thing possible to retaliate with.
- transeunte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9"We all ***** up in life from time to time - the question we have to ask ourselves is - are we too sensitive and too self absorbed to accept an apology?"
I've given a lot of thought to that question on different occasions. I think that judging him based on that video, and not giving him the opportunity to publicly apologize - as he did here -, is a huge mistake.
The guy said some horrible things, but he seems to regret it and was man enough to show his face instead of sending some crap memo. I think that's the best way to end this story. - ggko, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12bitcloud, seconded. I watched the video (from Google) of the tirade *after* reading the comments here, and in a way was let down; I was nearly expecting the grand dragon of the KKK to come out. It started with the fork comment, so there's virtually no context, to work with based on the video. Then he shouts ***** several times ... in reaction to? I don't know what the heckler said beforehand, so I decline to pass any judgment either.
- babayada, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I agree 100%.
When you're *really* pissed off at someone, what do you do?
You say the worst things you can to them to hurt their feelings. You degrade and humiliate them. You do ***** to really piss them off.
If a white guy is pissed off at a black guy, there's a chance he's going to use racial slurs. Probably so in the reversed case as well. Of course, when a black guy calls a white guy a "cracker ass cracker" it's no big deal.
People bandy about the word "racist" pretty easily. Talking ***** is not the same as being racist in your judgments and behavior on a daily basis. Would he refuse someone friendship or employment based on racial prejudices? Ok. Then I'd have to say that he's a racist.
Does he call a black guy a ***** when he's really pissed off at him? Well, that *might* mean he's a racist. But he's going for the easiest, most obvious thing, that's for sure. Unless the person was overweight or underweight or ugly or had a ugly haircut or a really bad fashion sense.... It's whatever is the easiest, most obvious thing usually. - babayada, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I don't think you understand anger very well.
You seem to be arguing here that a person's true nature comes out when they are angry, that what they "truly" think is revealed. If so, then our most negative thoughts, feelings, intimations, and beliefs are what is real and the part of us that uses restraint, takes pains to help others to the detriment of ourselves, and chooses good over bad even when we are tempted to do evil is an artifice of some kind... isn't "real."
The way I see it, we are complex. We think and feel a lot of things in tandem. We restrain ourselves. We contain that which is ugly in our natures and seek to control or transform it. We allow our best side to come through. We even contrive baloney that we think others want to see and hear, sure.
There is a lot of petty ugliness in being human, but there is also a lot of beauty, depth, and goodness. And maybe you cannot have one without the possibility (at least) of the other?
A person's "true" nature and thoughts do not come out when they are angry. Rather, their ugly ones are exposed. Anger is a filter. There are certain things that are impossible for a truly angry person to think. Does that mean that those reasonable things aren't true? Or do not coincide with the true nature of the angry person? Or is it just perhaps that they are inconceivable within the state of being angry?
A man may love a woman, but in anger call her a "stupid fat whore." Is that what he "really" thinks about her? If so, his love must be false. But let's say that his love is not false... and neither is his anger. Who is he then? He is not a simple, flat being. Rather he is a complex creature. A human being.
- hypocrisyxposed, on 10/12/2007, -22/+31I for one am exhausted with the double standards that certain minorities expect all of us to accept. I clearly heard a black male in the audience call Michael Richards a Cracker Ass. Just as offensive to me as the "N" word is to blacks. Yet, I have heard black celebrities, comedians, and even politicians use that racist term in referring to whites for decades, without a peep from the PC media. Why? Why should the son of a black neurosurgeon be admitted to a University or hired for an executive position ahead of the son of a poor white family from Appalachia? This is America, damnit! We are all entitled to say what we feel (short of inciting violence or destruction) and are expected to accept that right in others... unless, of course, you are a minority. Then whatever offends you must be banned. ENOUGH! My Italian/Sicilian ancestors were captured, murdered and enslaved for ages by blacks (Moors). I certainly don't expect restitution or special treatment. That was then... different time, different characters. I suggest our minority brothers and sisters wake up to the realization that the favoritism they cry for only feeds the flames and screams "Hypocrisy"! When will the PC world learn that until the double standards are erased, the so called "racial divide" will continue, out of pure resentment? MLK said "equality for all", not favoritism.
I couldn't agree more. Michael Richards is obviously an angry racist. Then again, so is Al Sharpton (Tawana Brawley, anyone?), Jesse Jackson (Hymie Town, anyone?). But they somehow continue to be accepted by YOU and the media as your spokespersons. Europeans did steal this country from Native Americans and Africans were enslaved and abused and used. HOWEVER... I DID NOT! I am here, just like you, because I was born here. And MY ancestors DID NOT steal this country, they emigrated in the early Thirty's. They never possessed a slave and they were, in fact, grossly mistreated, shunned and discriminated against. But somehow, THEY managed to pull themselves up and get ahead WITHOUT favoritism and reverse discrimination. You still didn't answer the question... why is your hypocrisy acceptable.
I agree that many people (black and white) are racists. I, however, am NOT one of them and I am tired of being punished for it. I am especially disgusted as I was one of those “crackers” who marched in Detroit in 1964 for the Civil Rights Amendment. I was raised to treat ALL people the same. I don’t judge every black by the ignorant, racist, God Awful words and deeds of Louis Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. I do, however, have great concern that so many blacks actually listen to and follow their hatred. Imagine if we had as many white people show up for a David Duke speech as there are blacks at a Farrakhan speech. If whites formed the National Association for the Advancement of White People, the United Caucasian College Fund... My God… riots everywhere. Hypocrisy. I was raised to be respectful of ALL people. Perhaps that’s why I resent having spent my entire life being punished for the actions of people I wasn’t even related to. I was passed up for the school I wanted to attend for a minority with lower scores. Why? I have been told many times that, while I was certainly qualified, “we have a quota” to fulfill. Enough is enough! You are NOT entitled to any more or less than me. And by the way, racism is defined by Houghton Mifflin as “Discrimination or prejudice based on race.” Hymie is a racist slur directed at Jewish people. If you think Jesse Jackson isn’t a racist then it’s quite obvious why we still have a racial divide. Why do "minorities" continue to expect entitlement to everything, despite the fact that one of the last real great leaders of the black community, MLK, clearly preached " even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are CREATED EQUAL"! So let's start being "equal" and stop this nonsense. Discrimination, AKA, Affirmative Action", and this BS double standard of it being okay to call me a "cracker" and okay to beat truck driver Reginald Denny nearly to death in LA because he was white. You and I are EQUAL. Get over it. You were NOT a slave, and I was NOT a slave owner! - ggko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8The laughter was probably because some of his facial expressions and body gestures he showed on Letterman were those he brought to his Kramer character previously. The familiarity with that (body) language probably inclined some to chuckle; even I had some Kramer flashbacks. However, on Seinfeld it's intended to bring out a laugh. Tonight's appearance you could feel a genuine akwardness and loss for words in the strained silence.
- CheezeMonkey, on 10/12/2007, -6/+14apparently the n word is a lot like the word fire... yell it in a crowded theater several times and people start heading for the exit. *bah dum chhhh*
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12EXACTLY. If everyone who said something racist to someone else in a spur of hte moment angry tirade is considered racist, then pretty much EVERY single black person I have encountered (and I live pretty much in a ghetto so that is a lot) is racist. As are almost every single white person, Chinese person, Mexican person, etc.
- DooDooFace, on 10/12/2007, -18/+26What, no alcoholism? He must have forgot the apology script.
Whatever career he had left is still bye-bye. - supermanred, on 10/12/2007, -13/+20He looks coked up when he's spewing ***** this and ***** that... not funny at all and totally unacceptable. At least Robin Williams is funny when hes drugged up on stage.
Boo to Kramer - KingMoses, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7The fact that this post is in negative territory; hell, the fact that it isn't at +50 is morally revolting to me. The grotesque double-standard propagated by Sharpton, Jackson, universities all over the continent and about 90% of the mainstream media panders to a culture of victimization that hurts minorities more than helping. Thankfully, there are levelheaded people like Bill Cosby who are not afraid to cut through the *****, who are not afraid to acknowledge that there are problems within the black communities and -- most shockingly of all -- those problems might not be anyone else's fault!
It is regrettable we live in a mindset where statements like these are "controversial" or worthy of being dugg down. There are few things worse than a double-standard, because then you don't even have purity of principle. - Jastaphy, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14You know I think you are right. In that case everyone is racist. I do not believe for one second that people have not had a thought cross their mind that is considered racist/sexist/hurtful. People always resort to hurtful comments when they are angered. Fat-ass for someone that is overweight, the assortment of names for different races, dumb bi*ch for a female... the list goes on. I think that he let his anger get the best of him when he was being heckled and as a result he spewed forth the most hurtful things he could think of. No I do not think it was acceptable but I believe it is something ppl should consider before casting the first stone.
- bitcloud, on 10/12/2007, -9/+16Until I see the 30 seconds prior to the tirade, I'm not judging this...
I am however judging anyone who wants to lynch this guy over seeing a SOUND BYTE...
50 years ago you lot would be the first to march with your pitchforks "doing the sticking"... - bariswheel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7The power to forgive is very important and needs to be taken seriously. We are human ,we make mistakes, we lose our temper. Haven't you ever said 'I'm going to kill you' or something stupid like that when you lose your temper? All common sense goes out the window. If you don't understand this then I believe you haven't experienced life enough to understand the human condition.
- Jaymo89, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Forgive and forget I say. The man seemed genuine.
We all have our anger outbursts every now and then. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -12/+18Showgun..when Chris Rock is blasting white people he is self deprecating?
- madenosine, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I'm curious as to why there were people in the audience laughing in:
1.) The original video
2.) The apology video - RpgActioN, on 10/12/2007, -6/+11He didn't look anything like he was acting...he's a good actor. If he was acting, the apology would have been much better.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5On the contrary, it is extremely unprofessional to let a heckler get to you. The best comics have many, many come back lines rehearsed and ready for hecklers. You must not go to many live comedy shows. Even the most outrageous insult comics would not stoop to just shouting '*****, he's a *****!'. There's got to be a hook, a funny payoff or punchline, otherwise it is just abuse. Nobody wants to pay to see that.
Here, I can think of two & I'm no comic: (to audience) 'drunks are like piles - they won't go away & they're a pain in the ass!' or 'hey buddy, that's ok, I can remember my first beer, too.' - Gerz1219, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Letterman made one quick joke about it in the monologue. He described the situation, then said "I blame Borat." The point of the joke wasn't to be funny, but rather to introduce the story to anyone in the audience who hadn't heard about it yet.
- timdorr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Jerry was on to promote the S7 DVDs. That was booked weeks, if not months, ago. He's out on all the talk shows promoting the DVDs right now, just as they did with past sets. So, if it wasn't Letterman, it would be some other show. Seinfeld, as a friend of Richards, wanted to give him a chance to explain himself and had the opportunity on one of the most watched shows he was going to be appearing on anyways. He gave up time promoting his DVD set to help out his friend.
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