What do you think of the Michael Richards (kramer) situation?

Question

If the black man decided that it was okay to heckle a comedian on stage, and use this commedian's past and career as a means to attack and insult him, then why is it so much worse for Richards to fight back in a way that he too saw fit, to insult the man back by saying things in turn, that may not have been right, or even true for that matter but equally as hurtfull none the less?

Maybe that man isin't a N***** But who was this guy to yell out during a show (that just so happens to be another mans job.) and make rude comments against him in any way. Show some decency and some respect!

I think it stinks that he got into trouble! He was goaded and should not apologize! Racist or not! We have all said things to defend outselves under duress that we do not ourselves agree with under normal circumstances. They are making a pariah out of him just for defending himself and it's just not right.

I think the black guy should have been tossed out on his ear!

Before it ever got that far! It is ashame how a mans entire life can become ruined by two as*sholes with big mouths that set off an obviously already stredded out man.

If we are talking about social conscience here and "Lines being drawn" they too should never have been allowed to "Set him off." to begin with.

They are bullies and Kramer doesn't deserve this as punishment for some words!

stredded = stressed... typo

I am American Indian and European. Just so you know, I caom from an interracial family... Yes, meaning mixed with black! And they feel the same way I do! Does anyone think it is right that Richards is now getting death threats? I would imagine some of you would! Which proves my point!

No one is any better than anyone else most just think they are!

and no one really knows what was said on the other end of all this because as usual... the audio and the video totally and completely lack the words that came from the other end. Including, "Cracker"

Answer 1

I think he was a little drunk and just lost it. I know from other comedians they have lost it too in a bad way. The severly disturbing thing was his comments about them hanging upside down 50 years ago. That denotes a mentality that black people are inferior and they should be lucky they are allowed to be among white people. Where would that comment come from unless by sick mind.

However it is not the first time he has lost it. He threw cue cards down at Andy Kaufman one day and Kaufman threw a picture of water on him.

Answer 2

I doubt Michael Richards is a racist (only he knows for sure, though). He just lost it. And yes, hecklers should be thrown out. And yes, the heckler DID start it.

Having said all of that, as a public figure (unfortunately) these things are going to happen and you just CAN'T lose it. Show some class and deal with these things in the appropriate way. I heard a story that the famous comedian, Red Foxx, was being harassed in this manner and said something approximately like "I don't mind if we both keep making fools of ourselves like this, becuase I will be the one making all the money". That is the way to handle it!

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

I am completely disgusted and sickened by Richard's outburst. I don't care if he was being heckled. I don't care if they yelled and talked during this set. He's getting paid thousands of dollars to stand up on a stage and tell jokes. He's been a comedian for a while so he should know that it comes with the territory (a heckler every now and then). And his racial comments were absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for. And for the record, I was equally disgusted by the heckler who in turn made his own racial slurs toward Richards.

Answer 5

Celebrities choose their career. Being heckled, chased, photographed, talked about; it's all a part of the package. Richards is best known for his role as Kramer, a complete weirdo! It is to be expected that he will be made fun of by some. To retaliate by making references to a time when blacks were treated terribly in this country and to refer to anyone as a N*gg*r is absolutely,fundamentally, horrifically wrong. Anyone who would condone this is a complete loser. He could have called them jerks or d*cks or something to that effect. But to make innuendos about the lynching of blacks in the past was just unforgivable. For him to claim he's not a racist is ridiculous.

He was not "defending himself" He was disrespecting a complete race and making references to a really awful time in the history of the United States. It is sad that there are people alive that would justify his behavior. If someone were to call me a b*it*ch on the street, I would respond with F-you or the like. Not some racially charged tirade. I am sure that color had absolutely nothing to do with what the audience members said to Richards. I understand that he was pissed, but there are any number of things he could have said or done to get his point across. It's offensive, rude, disgusting, morally wrong, reprehensible, and ridiculous of him to behave in that way.

At least we all know the real Richards now, and he can forget a career comeback after that debacle. Shame on you for justifying his insanely disrespectful comments!

Answer 6

Two wrongs don't make a right. I agree the hecklers should have been thown out. Secondly, I don't see that Mr Richards has earned the right to talk about Afro-americans. My perception of it was verbal abuse. Both sides got ugly - that's what happens when people are in their anger and speak their mind at the moment. Things are said that should not be spoken. I figure things could have been handled differently than they were. I'm just shocked that an entertainment vetran handled things that way.

I do Stand up comedy locally in my city. I have performed in front of a rough crowd and been heckled a few times. Usually in my city they don't allow hecklers - apparently they escort them out of the club. I even took a course in Stand up comedy and the main rule is to write about your experiences or what you have earned the right to talk about. On stage you have to be who you are and show yourself in a vulnerable light. You have to be very professional on stage and use self control with things.

When I heard this, I saw it was a big NO NO. I felt bad. The thing is about doing stand up is to have fun! It's when you stop having fun - you should pack it in and get outta dodge. Other than that I'm not too sure what to make of it. What done is done and time to move on....

Answer 7

To insult one individual for heckling at him is one thing but he took it to a level that wasn't necessary. He insulted him as a BLAK man. What does his being black have to do with how he as a human being acted. He insulted a community by using that word. That word is disrespecteful if used inproperly and he used it very improperly. It gets touchy if you so much as try to joke about it but he used it as a way to insult him. The bit about having a fork up his a$$ 50 years ago too was insulting to the african-american community. That is talking about a time when blacks wer not free just because of the color of their skin. A time when they were lynched because a white man was bored and could get away with it. You DON"T joke about something like that!He went over the line. Being upset about being heckled at is one thing and as a comedian, that is part and partial of his job. Michael Richards can apologize until he is blue in the face. His career is over now. The African American community will hang him out to dry. They are not forgiving of this sort of thing. He has made himself look like the bogot that he is. The secret is out. Ignorance and bigotry is what is tearing this country apart. He should apologize, profusely.

Answer 8

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 9

It is sad and unfathomable that you think that way in this day and age. Did you listen/read to what he yelled at those guys? He talked about hoisting them on a fork which was considered inhuman even during 1880's when KKK was dominant in the south.

Micheal Richards could have harassed the man about his weight, or physical appearance or something that doesn't directly refer to the inhuman practice of slavery and discrimination that still has lasting effect on our community. His apology seemed insincere and it reinfornces the beliefs among minorities that unless they are very vigilant, things could go all the way back to the last century.

Answer 10

I agree that utilising vulgar language fairly in a Chris Rock act the place Chris has patented a formula of black-as against-white comedy is extra socially suitable for a black American. The media ought to nicely ignore approximately it (different than putting right into a DVD and stamping it with an show language/warning label!)