What do you think about Michael Richards (Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld) yelling the N-word at his comedy show?

Question

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=2667529

Answer 1

I think he's brilliant.

Answer 2

What this situation is REALLY about most people are missing. It is not about Michael Richard's racism -- is about the double standard that blacks expect in America. If a black comedian uses the word "honky" or "cracker" nobody bats an eye because whites choose to not be offended by those terms. I could not care less if some black comic calls a white person a cracker or a honky. But blacks have chosen to create this taboo aura around the use of the word n i gg e r so that no one EXCEPT BLACKS CAN USE IT. Blacks call one another n i gg e r all day every day and no one is supposed to bat an eye. It is all right if blacks use it. But whites can't. Mexicans can't. Asians can't. Only blacks get to use that word. What if we as whites suddenly said that only WE can use words like, "graduate", "not guilty", "educated" and we said that blacks cannot use those words--only WE can. Blacks would be screaming within five minutes that we were racist. Yet when blacks choose to only get to use the word n i gg e r it is the EXACT same thing. That proves that blacks don't really mean it when they claim they want to be treated equally--they don't. They want SPECIAL treatment. In effect, they are saying, "WE can use this term but no one else can." Translated that means, "We want to have special privileges that others don't enjoy." Therefore in an ironic twist that only O.Henry would truly appreciate, it is the BLACK community that really demonstrates the most racism over this whole Michael Richards episode much more than Michael Richards does. Ironic huh?

Answer 3

I think his comments were absolutely disgusting. The n-word has very negative connotations. If everyone knew the historical meaning behind the word, I think it would offend everyone. I don't think his comments were bound by free speech. There are exceptions to every rule. No one should be put down by another - period. It's no different than children being teased by other kids. Words DO hurt. I think Michael Richards, in the heat of the moment, revealed what his thoughts REALLY are. No one could possibly convince me that the came up with those comments off the top of his head because he was angry. He's supposed to to be a professional comedian and should, after years in the business, be able to effectively handle hecklers in the audience. In no way am I defending the hecklers either. If they were not satisfied with his stand up routine, they could have simply left without saying a word. I think both sides were wrong in the way they handled the entire situation. And for some audience members to sit there and chuckle at Michael's comments was even more upsetting. Michael's comments, in my opinion, were NOT acceptable. And those who are okay with what he said are even more disgusting than he is.

Answer 4

Exactly, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock has never responded to a white audience member with a racist comment just because they didn't think he was funny. The men may have been hackling him and saying he wasn't funny, but if it was getting that annoying to him he could of had the men thrown out. And from the view of the tape, it seems that they only called him a cracker --- AFTER he was calling them the N-word. We teach our children that words can't hurt you and to turn the other cheek, so when those men was making fun of him and he was getting to a boiling point, he should of told them to get out if they weren't enjoying the show. Just because they wasn't doesn't mean the others in attendance weren't and they were more than welcome to leave. People didn't pay money to hear him spew racist comments and they didn't pay to hear those men acting up either. But the way he responded to it, he should have been the bigger man. As a comedian, he should have been more professional in dealing with hecklers. He didn't have to go that far as to attack them racially and bring up lynching. Either way using racial slurs toward others (or toward each other) isn't right. It degrading, ignorant, and disrespectful. And the excuse that the Blacks call each other the N-word makes it okay doesn't make it right. That word was used to degrade black people and even among the black society, that word shouldn't be used. And if some of us are saying that we would have responded the same way if we were getting made fun of or poked at, how is that setting a example for our children in how their supposed to handle bad situations in their future? Mr. Richards and those men should of handled themselves better. Both of them was in the wrong period.

Answer 5

One Seinfeld script was about a girl Kramer was seeing who heckled Jerry at an important show. Jerry was so mad he went and heckled her at her office. She threw a fit and lost a little toe in an accident. Kramer saved her toe! That is a memorable Seinfeld episode.

Answer 6

I think the guy probably was having a bad day or something. You never know what the *ssholes in the front row were saying to him during his show that upset him so much. I looks like a simple matter of a guy going crazy because he was mad. Yeah, he said some stuff he regretted, but haven't you once or twice too? Be honest...

Answer 7

Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor has NEVER called out an paying audience member and racially attacked them.. I was shocked and HURT by what he said because I was a fan of his. Have you seen the tape? He repeatedly screams to a black audience member 'YOU'RE a N*****R!!! YOU'RE A N*****R!! YOU'RE A N*****R'YOU'RE a N*****R!!! YOU'RE A N*****R!! YOU'RE A N*****R!!!!" over and over.. How is that right? EVER? Have you ever seen any black comedian do that to anyone of any race? Don't use that comparison, its unfair.

Where exactly was the joke in that tirade? Most of the audience left so I guess it was not okay with them either.

Answer 8

Black people say the N-word all the time,
as if they are the only ones allowed to say it.
Good for Michael Richards!

Answer 9

Well, Richard Pryor used it and Eddie Murphy used it and so if
Michael Richard's want to use it and gets away with it fine. My
Italian Supply Sergeant once said to me, "Give that *****r some
sheets" and I was so embarrased because it was like I also said
it all the time.

Answer 10

Just goes to show you what an over inflated ego can acomplish.

Answer 11

so what? he can say whatever he wants. good for him. It may have been offensive, but could have been the only proper reaction to the hecklers in the audience. I would do the same.