Nov 22 2006
Michael Richards’ Racist Tirade
GUESTS: Robert Jensen, Professor of Media Ethics and Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin, author of several books including “The Heart of Whiteness : Confronting Race, Racism and White Privilege†and Ben Caldwell, Executive Director of Kaos Network, and co-founder of Project Blowed, the oldest running hip hip open mic in California
Actor and Comedian Michael Richards, who is most famous for playing Cosmo Kramer on the successful television sitcom “Seinfeld,†exploded in a racist tirade at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood last Friday night. In a cell phone video obtained by TMZ.com, Richards is shown to have directed the N-word several times to a black audience member who the on-stage comedian felt interrupted his act. Some members in the crowd continued to laugh at the comic’s outburst, while others were horrified and left. Richards issued an apology on, “The Late Show,†with David Letterman, but denied that he was a racist. Jamie Masada, owner of the Laugh Factory, issued a statement Monday in which he declared Richards “no longer welcomed,†at the comedy club. However, the Saturday night following Richards’ racist outburst, the comedian returned to the Laugh Factory and performed again.
For more information, visit Project Blowed and Robert Jensen’s homepage
7 Responses to “Michael Richards’ Racist Tirade”
My initial response to the tirades presented here was “Here we go again”. Here comes Robert Jensen to castigate white people for being inherently racist, and here comes Ben Caldwell to castigate Hollywood for the same thing. Their comments simply don’t withstand scrutiny, though. Regardless of the nastiness of Richards’ outburst (which will likely finish whatever was left of his career), condemning the audience, Hollywood and white America in general is certainly not the answer.
Initially, the host throws a backhanded slam at “Seinfeld” as a “successful if totally pallid television sitcom”. Presumably this is meant to put the TV show in its place. Then the host says that Richards’ racist outburst was directed at “a black audience member who the on-stage comedian FELT interrupted his act.” Actually, according to the people who were actually at the Laugh Factory (including Moreno, the comic who had to follow Richards), there was a group of people who were there for a birthday party and were being pretty loud, both in talking to each other and in talking back to the stage and heckling Richards. So there was an interruption – regardless of who did it or what they looked like. Richards’ reaction was horrible and pretty revealing – but it’s indisputable that there was a trigger. A better comedian under the same situation would normally bring the guys making noise into the act, either by throwing questions to them or just making them part of the show. (Rodney Dangerfield used to do this to pretty good effect)
Caldwell makes a point that a couple of his friends from Project Blowed were dropped from “Hollywood” because it was said that “urban music” wasn’t viable, even as the Beastie Boys were kept on. This is presumably proof that Hollywood is racist. On the other hand, Caldwell doesn’t tell us who any of these people were or what was happening. It happens very frequently in the recording industry that people get dropped from labels – and usually it’s a money issue more than anything else. How do we know that his 2 friends’ records were selling, or that there weren’t any other circumstances?
Jensen then makes the unbelievable leap to assume that the laughter heard on the video means that the white people in the crowd thought they were safe to laugh at racist humor. Is he serious? Has Jensen never heard of the term “nervous laughter” before? Further, the host seems to be upset that the entire crowd didn’t immediately get up and leave. She is likely unaware of the concept of “rubbernecking” – where people stay to see something truly ugly or shocking just because it is so. It’s the reason for most of the traffic jams I’ve ever been in. Casting a blanket judgment on the audience is beyond silly here – it just reveals Jensen (and the host’s) ignorance.
Caldwell then goes on to admit he couldn’t watch “Seinfeld” because he didn’t like it, but that apparently the only black actor ever on the show was playing a racist stereotype. In other words, Caldwell never saw the show but he is content to call it racist anyway. Caldwell then says that the behind the scenes crews in Hollywood are racist and that he refused to work with them. Having worked in Hollywood myself for the past 12 years, I’d love to know who he was referring to. I’ve certainly encountered some racist people in one or another situation. I’ve also encountered many many people that were not. I have worked for writers, producers and directors who were not white or male, and it wasn’t a big deal. It’s called going to work. It’s a shame that Caldwell apparently turned his back on Hollywood over 20 years ago, but he shouldn’t make blanket statements about it unless he is prepared to back them up.
I was hoping for a more in-depth and substantive discussion of what happened at the Laugh Factory but this certainly wasn’t it.
I agree completely with Kevin. Unfortunately, Jensen, who has written some many admirable critiques of the media, lives in Austin and is unaware of the poisonous effects that Sonali’s campaign to expose “racists in the peace movement” had on the hapless volunteers who happened to be white. Also, it is unfair to condemn Richards without giving him an opportunity to respond. At any rate, the host could have said she disagreed with what he said without attacking his character.
I have seen comedians say and do incredibly offensive things, so picking on Michael Richards is not particularly helpful; I would much rather see the host go after the AFL-CIO and the media for supporting the coup in Haiti. Or go after CNN for having bigots as hosts. There are no lack of real racists out there, but it is much easier to go after peace activists and a comedian than people who actually have power.
The question that still linger is was Richards using this as a part of his stage performance. Clearly, NO! He did not come with a punch line. We must admit that he was outright inappropriate. Neither black or white has the right to be judge by he or she skin color. And yes it is now trumpeted that black community uses the word “nigga” among themselves, yet it must be analyzed what context is it used. I am sure a black person will say my white buddies use the n-word without they feel humilated. Richards was wrong to make such personal attack on these men.
Joy
I don’t watch the show. But when a person is offended, it is human nature to offend back. Michael Richards couldn’t think of a good put-down for his heckler (as a good comedian could) so he spontaneously resorted to racial slurs. Maybe he should study Jay Leno’s skill at innuendo in his friendly jesting with his band leader, Kevin Eubanks. Richard’s outburst just shows that he is not very creative, not quick-witted, is high-tempered, but not necessarily a racist. When his temper cooled, he realized his error. If Richards made a practice of such slurs, then I’d say he is a racist, but I have seen no evidence of that.
He was not fast enough to verbally respond,thats all he could do to defend
himself verbally & mentally.he was
very angry
I agree 100% with “Kramer”. I’m tired of going out of my way so as not to offend anyone.Lastly………why the hell should I have to push “1” for English?
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