Michael Richards: THIS is the Double Standard!?

Question

If Michael Richards committed a hate crime with his remarks, then why aren't Andrew Dice Clay or Howard Stern "Hate Criminals"? Their entire acts are based on saying viscious, degrading things about women. When rap singers write songs about raping and murdering women where is the outrage? I think we have a big, honking double standard here.

Answer 1

Being a dick isn't a hate crime... not as far as I've heard. He's certainly a dick for saying those things, but I doubt he's committed a crime.

Answer 2

I don't think that you can compare Andrew Dice Clay, Howard Stern, and Michael Richards.

First, what Michael Richards did was NOT part opf his act at all!! He flipped out on a heckler, he was NOT trying to get laughs when he said "that's what happens when you interrupt a white man"

Second, any remarks Andrew Dice Clay made were NOT made while screaming and running around the stage and they certainly weren't directed toward one specific female in the audience getting personal like Michael Richards. Howard Stern does NOT go off on women and race like that either. Anything he ever does to or with women is at their asking. Don't forget that! You may find it degrading, so don't watch. The women stand in line to get in and talk with him. It's just not the same.

I think you missed the point.

Answer 3

It is a double standard. Last time I checked this country still had freedom of speech. If you don't like Howard Stern just turn it off. If you ever listen to Jamie Foxx or Chris Rock they make "racist" remarks all the time. If you don't like them do not listen to them either. If what Mr. Richards said was considered a "hate crime" we all should just never talk. Whats next? If you refer to somebody as fat or refer to a gay as a homo would that be a "hate crime?"

Answer 4

I agree with what has been said so far. Most comedian that you may name (Howard Stern or Chris Rock) are within their characters to perform the way they do. And they usually are making light of a situation to make a joke harmless.

But what Michael said was definately not in his character and was not what any of his fans would expect to hear even if it was an act. But as others has pointed out.. he was speaking from his mind.. not part of a script.

Double standards may exist but not with in this particular scenario.

Answer 5

I understand what you are saying but you missed the point- You stated that "their entire acts are based on saying visicious degrading things..." Richards outburst wasn't a part of his act, it was his anger. Stern, and other aholes don't go off by degrading women because they are angry they do it a part of their shows, and if Richards would've did that it wouldn't be a big fuss right now because comics are always insulting the other races, but he showed his true colors because he was angry because he was being heckled, so the first thing that came out of his mouth because it was black people being rude, was the n word and lynching them, so therefore it ain't a double standard because he let his true emotions get the best of him. He was better off coming out as character and he would've been excused.

Answer 6

I agree. I think it was the manner in which he lost his temper. Also, it was clear that he didn't mean this to get out. Howard Stern isn't that shocking, because he starts out saying what he is- a sexist shock jock. So, what do you expect from him? When your image is that of a goofy, neighbor next door, the standards are higher.

I am by no means PC, I AM a fan of Howard Stern (I have Sirius), and Howard even bugs ME with his stupid things he says about women. Please don't think it's only women that are offended by Howard- it's just not enough to make me care.

Answer 7

I think there is a difference in making general sweeping comments and pointing your finger directly at someone and spewing racial slurs...and the N word was not the worst of it - the pitch-fork and hanging comment was BIG DIFFERENCE HERE.

Besides, I sure thought he was a big ugly racist yesterday...but today it's coming out that it's all a big Lampoon. That he and the two guys that heckled him, the club, Seinfeld, Letterman...and the tv judge they are going in front of now...are allllll in on it. It's a Lampoon Andy Kaufmann style...(which IS the kind of comedy Michael Richards comedy roots are from & he was close friends with Andy Kaufmann)

Don't know what to think now. Those were racist remarks...clearly. If this is all some elaborate lampoon on the American public?...not funny either.

Answer 8

the rationalization at the back of this double accepted is by way of the previous injury racism has finished to others via alot of people in our heritage. Key be conscious is heritage. additionally we could desire to not forget approximately that alot of people stood up against that racism that weren't minorities. those human beings went against the grain and a few even misplaced their lives. Why do not we have fun those examples? Why can we concentration on people who harm us? it extremely is a double accepted yet shall we concentration on doing the dazzling factor. Many minority leaders have pronounced hateful, gruesome, racist issues in public and no-one says a piece and that they actual do not say sorry. Michael misplaced his temper and stepped excess of the line and grew to become into sorry. He tangled up and did the dazzling factor to bypass in the dazzling course. He can not do plenty else to dazzling this.

Answer 9

I think the double standard lies in the fact that rappers say the "N" word (No I don't use it!!) every other word!! And you hear all these little hip hop clowns refer to themselves as it again every other word...I have no problem with the fact that he snapped and called them something they probably refered to themselves as all day long anyway....It was the comment that precipitated it

"If it was 50 years ago you'd be hanging upside down with a fork in your a*s" That blew my mind...

Something like that just doesn't roll off your tongue unless you've thought about it before..That was unbelievably offensive and crossed every there was to cross in my mind!! The dudes career has been dead for years. So I can't even say he buried himself with that comment...But he sure let people know where his mind lies..He's racist no if's ands or buts about it.

Answer 10

My sentiments ... exactly. When my sons were younger, they got gift certificates from my mom for Christmas. I took them to "The Source" to pick out a CD. At the time, they liked rap ... and do you think they could find any w/o a "parental advisory" on it? ONE ... by Will Smith ... that's it , that's all.

With all this hate going on in the world today ... it's no wonder some children are growing up the way they do. Sad ... really sad.