In one of the most awkward moments in the history of late night television, a shamed Michael Richards appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman to apologize for his racist, hate-fueled rant. It wasn't meant to be funny, but the audience laughed anyway.
Richards agreed to appear on the show, even after Letterman took a comedic jab at "the guy who played Kramer" on the Top Ten list, at the request of his good friend and former co-star Jerry Seinfeld. Jerry was there to promote "Seinfeld" Season 7 on DVD.
As Richards began explaining the "nasty things" said about "Afro-Americans," the audience couldn't help but chuckle. Seinfeld, immediately scolded the crowd, saying "stop laughing, it ain't funny." But the crowd couldn't help themselves.
The confused fans continued to chuckle, and Richards seemingly blamed Letterman for the awkwardness. "I've already heard you make some jokes about it and that's OK, but I'm really busted up about it."
Richards admitted that he may have acted without thinking. "I'm hearing your audience laugh ... and I'm not even sure that this is where I should be addressing the situation."
Reader Comments
(Page 1 of 29) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments
ooops sorry I meant I cannot THINK of any comedy show where white people were not made fun of
Now he wants to blame the audience? This guy is not sincere that's why people were laughing at him. Jerry Seinfeld is a douch bag.
Majority of the comments on here are so ignorant. The entire Kramer rant was disgusting, primarily due to his first comment about the black man "hanging upside down with a fork up his *ss". This is beyond name calling. Can you imagine saying to a jewish person, "60 years ago they'd have you naked in camp, starving to death and burn you alive!" The n-word is the secondary issue. So stop comparing this to the silly "cracker" comeback, which the heckler fired back.
Hello stupid white people (yes, I'm white), white Americans have never suffered and been used as slaves, resulting in race recovery that continues to date.
White men are responsible for the enialation of the American Indians, Black Salvery and keeping Women as second class citizens until we were allowed to vote just 50-some years ago. White men CANNOT justify ANY use of racist or sexist behavior and language. Those whom have not suffered cannot speak to those who have. Sit down, shut up, and treat all people with respect.
I personally like Richards, as a Black American, I have never felt he was racist. Now, an earlier comment made by racer is completely possible. This guy was heckling and maybe he was in "the zone" and just let loose. I don't excuse what happened, but it is understandable. As a comedian once said no one comes to your job and heckles you so take it for what it's worth and move on, Apology Accepted.
GEE IT SEEMS STRANGE TO ME THAT WE CAN BE CALLED CRACKERS AND HONKEYS AND NOTHING IS EVER SAID, BUT LET THEM BE CALLED THE N WORD AND THEY ALL GET BENT OUT OF SHAPE. GROW UP AND DROP IT. MICHAEL MADE A MISTAKE. IT WON'T BE THE FIRST TIME THE N WORD IS USED AND BELIEVE IT WON'T BE THE LAST. YOU PEOPLE GET A LIFE.
LARRY GET OVER YOUR SELF, WHATS IT POOR ME???? WALK IN MY SHOES FOR A DAY. AND YES I AM WHITE.
apparently he lost it for a moment or two he never appeared to be a racist in the past and we shouldn't lynch him for one (really bad) slip there is too much hate in this world now so lets try to forgive and move forward blacks and whites alike often have feelings of racism but we have come a long way God forgave worse
This guy has a HELL of a nerve to get pissy with the audience! He and jerk off seinfeld! He's the asshole who made the comments and trys to apologize by making more stupid comments. He and Jerry are both idiots. BTW how many black people were on Seinfeld???
what if someone called him a jew. Name calling is ugly and wrong. PERIOD
Ethnic people suck! Thanx for setting the record straight for all the wusssies bleeding heart for the asshxxxs heckling him.
Go Kramer ! Niggers are uneducated mouthy assholes and they call each other such daily all over this country... Give me a Break ! They deserved every bit of it and more.
I read an piece in a mag once that said "extras" on the set of Seinfeld were not allowed to look at the cast or talk to them. Talk about egos.
I'm just not sure what I'm going to feel next time I see Kramer in Seinfeld onTV... I don't think I would buy the DVDs this year, either. I hope he didn't ruin the cultural milestone... It's not like Mel Gibson, Mel's are all action movies, so your mind is not really working, it's a different kind of carisma, he doesn't need to be...good.
