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

(Page 3 of 503)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. Wow, what drugs was he on or alcohol?????

Posted at 9:28AM on Nov 20th 2006 by GentleTip.com

32. Why do we have such a double standard in America? The hecklers were out of line, too. We lose all sensibilities and go to immediate outrage when the "n" word is used. Settle down, folks. This isn't even news.

Posted at 9:28AM on Nov 20th 2006 by RB

33. GOOD FOR HIM! They were being disrespectful and deserved it. Und danke fuer interesse!

Der Kubelmeister

Posted at 9:29AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Bill Hilser

34. Would it have been the same if there were a black man on stage making racial comments about white people? Probably not. I'm so sick of the double-standard.

Posted at 9:30AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Devil's Advocate

35. #30- another racist in denial about the social progression of the world. The media does not tolerate racism anymore, and in a few days, you will see Michael Richards cowering, groveling and apologizing...ha! How does that make you feel?

Posted at 9:31AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Denial

36. I was shocked and very disappointed in Michael's comments. I agree that I will never view the Seinfeld reruns in the same way. I must also agree, however, with previous posters who note a double standard. I've noticed here at TMZ that whites come to the fore to admonish posters with racial slurs. I don't believe there are any slaves/slave owners still alive, meaning that injustice was corrected long ago, yet whenever a black person (Orenthal, MJ, Oprah, etc.), is criticized it somehow becomes a racial episode.

Posted at 9:32AM on Nov 20th 2006 by jennifer

37. I Usually just ignore the ignorant and racist comments posted on this site (and others),but I must respond to "Nate."

Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle have never attacked an audience member using racial slurs. Using the N-word in their comedy routines, usually to comment on something they find funny about other black people or a situation is a far cry from screaming at audience members.Surely, this can't be the first time in his career as a comedian that Richards has been heckled.

I can't wait for him to blame it on being drunk or some other lame excuse. Sad.

Posted at 9:34AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Wicked Wanda

38. Come on now, racists...the 'double standard' argument is a bit redundant, no? Obviously, he said the 'N' word not as a JOKE, but as a slur and in a hateful way...and at the very least, he should apologize...which I'm sure he will if he wants to continue his 'career' (if you can call it that) in Hollyowood.

Posted at 9:35AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Double Standard Blah Blah Blah

39. #40- Agree...but ofcourse, the small minded racists on here do not have the brain capacity to grasp what you wrote...

Posted at 9:37AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Michael Richards Sucks!

40. This is more than a slip of the tongue, but dilberate, and something that he has been holding on for some time. He should be the subject of regular demonstrations and be forced to live on his residuals from Seinfield.

Mark S. Allen
Associate Editor
The South Street Journal Newspaper (Chicago)
773-373-7000

Posted at 9:40AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Mark S. Allen

41. Richards won't get as much attention as Mel because Mel went after Jews and the Jewish folks are controlling hollywood. Hollywood influences the media, mel recently produced a movie that Jews found offensive. Where do Jews get off judging christians for movies that illustrate their beliefs? Lots and lots of double standards in the world and the reaction to this unacceptable tirade will stand as perfect illustration

Posted at 9:41AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Theresa Radke

42. I was there and those guys were calling him cracker. That part is not on the video.

If someone calls you a cracker, you have every right to call them whatever you want.

Posted at 9:42AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Josh Green

43. #40

ok. how can you call my comments ignorant and racist? don't hide behind buzzwords.

ive already said that michael was wrong for what he said.

and to the person who claims i am not socially aware of the difference between n and cracker:
yeh, n*gger has much more evil and hate in its connotation than cracker, but why was it so damn funny when dave chappel did his "n*ggahs" routine. i saw a whole lot of black people on that show thinkin it was hilarious.

racism is disgusting, regardless of its context. and a racist tirade to a heckler is just as bad as a black man pulling in 20 million dollars making n*gger jokes.

its all sickening.

Posted at 9:43AM on Nov 20th 2006 by nate

44. Holy sh*t! I love the character Krammer but I will never look at that man the same again. This is a million time worse than anything Mel Gibson said, and he was drunk.

ADMF

Posted at 9:43AM on Nov 20th 2006 by Lisa

45. WOW! I am in a state of schock, he is such an ass, I want to see him siting next to OPRAH!! I am sure she will make him feel like sh*t....

Posted at 9:45AM on Nov 20th 2006 by alexa

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