Train Wrecks
"Kramer's" Racist Tirade -- Caught on Tape

Michael Richards at the Laugh FactoryWARNING: WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE IS PROFANE AND RACIAL

Michael Richards exploded in anger as he performed at a famous L.A. comedy club last Friday, hurling racial epithets that left the crowd gasping, and TMZ has obtained exclusive video of the ugly incident.

Richards, who played the wacky Cosmo Kramer on the hit TV show "Seinfeld," appeared onstage at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood. Kyle Doss, an African-American, told TMZ he and some friends were in the cheap seats and he was playfully heckling Richards when suddenly, the comedian lost it.

The camera started rolling just as Richards began his attack, screaming at one of the men, "Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f***ing fork up your ass."

Richards continued, "You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now motherf**ker. Throw his ass out. He's a nigger! He's a nigger! He's a nigger! A nigger, look, there's a nigger!"

The crowd is visibly and audibly confused and upset. Richards responds by saying, "They're going to arrest me for calling a black man a nigger."

One of the men who was the object of Richard's tirade was outraged, shouting back "That's un-f***ing called for, ain't necessary."

After the three-minute tirade, it appears the majority of the audience members got up and left in disgust.

Attempts to reach Richards' reps were unsuccessful.

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Richards Racial Rant -- Play Video


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Reader Comments

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7516. I don't agree at all with the brazen, careless way Michael Richards acted on stage treating people like that. However, there was one place on the video where Richards said, "Negro," and TMZ.com had instead written, "Nigger," in the words at the bottom of the screen.

Posted at 3:01PM on Feb 23rd 2007 by Mark

7517. Another ego driven individual, who used to get attention, fame and money and then found himself dropping into the deep abyss of oblivion needed drastic tastics. Here we go again America. We all know that controversy sells. It is now with going to Africa "help" or adopt some children the "in" ways to attract attention and ultimately get some gain, financial and otherwise......
Knowing America and its sempiternal race issue, there is no better, hotter, juicier topic....!
It will work out for him ultimately as many have done in the past. Stimulate America's social nerve center and it would jerk and react as always expected!!!
Bravo!!!

Posted at 12:38AM on Feb 25th 2007 by Mansour

7518. get over it. one person does not make up an entire community. we say things everyday and we are all entittled to say what we want and either apologize or not for our actions. We are responsible for our own faults and actions, this wont be the last time and it wasnt the first time vulgar comments flew out of peoples mouth. pick and choose your battle, just because someone is a star doesnt mean they are above us. Which is the problem with our society we hold them to the candle, we hang on every word they say and think this is them. When someone makes a mistake we drag them thru the mud? that just shows they are human and not that fantasy creature we created them into. I by no means am for what was said by richards, or gibson, but WHAT the hell does it matter what others say unless of course they are the president? Get over yourself and live your life, key word your life.

Posted at 5:34PM on Feb 25th 2007 by harmony

7519. Saying the word Nigger or Nigga is NOT racist!!!
Saying the word Nigger or Nigga is NOT racist!!!
Saying the word Nigger or Nigga is NOT racist!!!

OFFENSIVE? probably.
Politically incorrect? probably.
But it does NOT make you a Racist.

Loosing your temper and saying things when your "fit-to-be-tied" Does NOT make you a Racist.

Posted at 7:09PM on Feb 26th 2007 by mowakumba

7520. Very well put #28.

Posted at 4:04AM on Mar 3rd 2007 by Anita

7521. This comment is directed toward Alice or whatever her stupid name is. (comment #12) Clearly, Richards meant everything that he said on stage. His comments were not jokes. His rants were said to hurt someone. Of course some black comedians talk about white people as well as white comedians talking about black people. If the jokes are for entertainment then no they don't make news. However, Richards wasn't JOKING. He was clearly making racist slurs and for that he should be put on the news. His actions were unruly and negative. The only thing that you were right about in your comment was the very last line...."what this guy say is nothing in comparision" Black comedians making JOKES surely does not compare to a comedian (keeping race out of it) making racial slurs and showing signs that even now bigotry still exists!

Posted at 8:14AM on Mar 8th 2007 by Angel Holsley

7522. So much hate. What a shame. You should all use that passion for something good, instead of feeding the eternal flame that is racism. Hate, hate, hate, please change.

Posted at 11:33AM on Mar 20th 2007 by disgusted

7523. ok..so he "lost it"...but I can understand a certain amount of this type of thing when one wonders how 13% (black) of the population appears in 95% of all media advertising..most notably TV....causing, I suspect, some deep seated resentment and/or questioning just exactly how (or who ) is behind this imbalance.

Posted at 3:15PM on Mar 29th 2007 by George Emmert

7524. I agree with #12 black ( if we can still say that) comedians say alot worse about whites ..and we just all sit out there and just laugh..could u imagine the uproar if whites got a tv chanel (Black Entertainment chanel)

Posted at 10:24AM on May 6th 2007 by COWBOY

7525. It's amazing how words hurt more than sticks and stones now. People who don't open their eyes to the decline of this world around them are more ignorant than this poor bastard. There are more important things to worry about than this rubish. But of course, keep taking your spoon fed ideas. Enjoy.

Posted at 9:58AM on May 13th 2007 by Boom Boomer

7526. I used to watch Seinfeld, being a native New Yorker. I could relate to some of the humor. However, these are DEEP ROOTED feelings that Michael Richards has. Nothing 'past tense' here. These are his TRUE COLORS showing and NOTHING he can say will change that. It's amazing how he's managed to hide it for so long.

A Professional comic knows how to handle a heckler without going into a psychotic rant of racial slurs and attacks. He's no different than the KKK, Skinheads, or any other racist group - regardless of color. It's all sick hatred that needs to stop. Michael Richards, "You're Fired!"

Posted at 8:30PM on Jul 2nd 2007 by Charles Knight

7527. I swear, a lot of celebrities are the most messed up people on Earth. You'll find similiar psychological traits between this Richards guy, Lee Harvey Oswald, that guy that shot lennon, and John Wayne Gacy.

Posted at 5:37AM on Aug 16th 2007 by AJR

7528. He's my new hero! To HELL with all this political correctness. It's about time whitey uses the term nigger as freely as niggers do! I'm so sick of the nigger victim role in society. Nigger's can't enjoy the day unless they have someone to blame their own situation on. Niggers are lazy, good-for-nothing idiots and most are societal sponges. And what about the crack cocaine induced, anti-white, anti-police, violence-inducing rap music?

I say it's time to go back to the 50's and re-establish those ways.

Hang em all upside down and put forks up all of their asses!

Way to freaking go!

Posted at 10:27AM on Sep 2nd 2007 by Bootnoses and Saucerlips

7529. Before I condemn him, I want to hear what was said BEFORE the tape got rolling on his attack.

You can hardly make a fair judgment unless you hear BOTH sides.

BUT, I would think that he'd have standard comeback lines for a heckler, to quiet them down, most comedians do. Unless the heckler crossed the line and he went ballistic.

I think I'll wait for the WHOLE story.

Posted at 6:03PM on Sep 23rd 2007 by Rand

7530.

Mr. Richard's I feel sorry for someone like you. Black people have been treated with the most disrepect all of their lives. We are the most forgiving people. That word "NIGGER" is used daily towards us. We try to suck it up like a trooper. But the more white people feel that they can use that word so freely, you might as well expect a reaction to your ignorance as well as those that follow in your footsteps.

A white man's fear will always cause pain for themselves as well as others. When are you going to grow up. It doesn't cost a dime to be kind to a person, does it? May God Bless you all. I hope someday we can all live in love, peace and respect for one another. When that day comes it will be so beautiful.
I will be praying for you.

Posted at 3:14PM on Oct 14th 2007 by Janet

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