Michael Richards from Seinfeld goes on racist tirade - Page 5

[BookGoddess]

His tirade is absolutely inexcusable and disgusting. I was never much of a Seinfeld fan but I'm familiar with his quirky character on the show. I won't be able to watch another rerun on TV again. I doubt I will want to after seeing this clip.

There is no excuse for ever using the "N" word against hecklers (or anyone else for that matter!). You'd think a comic with as many years in the busines as Michael Richards has would have some witty comebacks, some smart-ass comments already prepared to deal with situations like this.

[sphinxie]

I agree, sounds like he is on pills.

There is absolutely live racism out there. And it's much more common than we like to think, I'm sure. And it has tragic, live consequences.

But I sometimes wonder. I have a friend who went off the deep end with mania. She started saying some racist things about a fairly random group. She also said lots of horrible things about lots of regular people. I think (not know, just think) that it might be possible for somebody who isn't actually racist to become hateful when chemically imbalanced, and then be racist. If that makes sense. Not that it would necessarily be true in this case anyway.

And meanwhile his apology has no bearing on reality because in showbiz you have to apologize for something like this, and somebody writes your apology for you. Plus, these guys are all actors by trade.

I know too many people who feel that because our culture is more permissive with black racism against whites (and similar variations), that justifies white racism against blacks. (Because one is too many.) Somehow that backwards logic is, IME, a lot more tenacious. Even if black racism really bothers somebody-- though how can it be even nearly as damaging as racism from the majority?--two wrongs don't make a right.

[GiggleBirds]

It sounded like a psychotic episode to me. The apology did seem real, but confused. Either that or he is on drugs. The way he got all worked up so easily does seem to point to some sort of imbalance. Of course, none of this excuses anything. I hope he gets help.

Oh, and I also agree that the apology may have been required of him for the DVDs.

[Tendaironi]

I, for one, am glad he exposed himself as what he truly is, even if he is sorry! When I was spit at and called the n word, sorry later didn't help me to feel better or undo the damage, but maybe it made the person who did it feel better. Sorry isn't good enough, he said some scary, intimidating things on stage and should be held accountable for that.

Sometimes I wish for more blatant racism like what he did so they can be caught because the most damaging is the subtle racism. The kind where you don't get jobs, promotions, housing, etc because of the color of your skin. Those things are harder to prove and people have become better at hiding their racism and then say, "I'm not racist." Those are the ones I really worry about, because how can I find them to even stay away from them!?

[miriam]

I do not know why he is still working. He made $millions when the show was first run, and now with syndication and the DVDs, he should be too busy running to the mailbox and to the bank with his residual checks to be working on a nightclub act.

[the_lissa]

Some people work because they enjoy it. PLus, I heard that he was broke.

[miriam]

He did not seem to be enjoying himself during the tirade. If he is broke, that is his fault. Few people are lucky enough to land a job that pays as well as being a headliner on a regular series for seven years and make million$, whilst playing himself.

[the_lissa]

What's your point? I never said his possibly being brole wasn't his fault. And maybe he did enjoy his worl before this. You said you didn't know why he worked. I gave a couple possible reasons. :

[mamaverdi]

The whole thing makes me ill.