Michael Richards is an asshole. So what?
- Posted by Beth on November 21st, 2006 filed in Celebrities, General, Stupid
Well, so Michael Richards showed his ass. And he’s apologized. Ho-hum. I dunno, I just don’t buy these “apologies” that follow an outburst like that (or Mel Gibson’s). It always seems to me they’re doing it because “they have to.” Does anyone really feel like public apologies made anything better, though? It’s almost like they’re put in the position of a child who stole candy from the store, and Mama sent him to return it with an apology. It’s about shame. But you can’t really take it back.
I saw Paul Rodriguez on Fox News this morning saying “maybe if he delivered a thousand turkeys to families in South Central, I don’t know.” What, is that gonna make Michael Richards not a racist asshole? All it means is he’s got money and would be buying forgiveness. But it isn’t repentance.
Here’s my thing: Why is this such a big deal? Why is it a surprise that there are actually celebrities who are racists? Racists, like any kind of jackasses, exist in all strata of society, but for some reason, we act so surprised when one of them is. Most public figures will try to put on their best faces because their livelihoods depend on their being likeable, but they are human beings. In all of society there are racists, drunks, pathological liars, thieves, and people who are sexists, abusive, violent, mentally ill, unhygienic, or painfully stupid. Why wouldn’t there be any of that among celebrities? Certainly we can think of some (if not many) already whom we suspect are any of the above. (Personally, I think most of them are a bit touched.)
So I imagine there will be some who think Richards should go to some racial awareness classes or something, to train him or something. Maybe there’s something to it, if for no other reason to infantilize him with a good scolding–make him feel humiliated. I suspect, though, that most rational black folks don’t feel terribly hurt by his ranting (save for those at whom he was shouting); that he’ll be rightfully looked at as the tool he is. “Consider the source,” as they say. He’s an idiot. Maybe I’m projecting, though–I know I don’t get my feelings hurt when some ignorant moron calls me names (as a blogger, I’ve been called all sorts of things, none of which describe me, so why would I care?).
I guess I’m just tired of the media (old and new media) posturing, the tsk-tsking, just as I’m sick and tired of seeing them race-baiting every time you turn around. Here’s what I want to know: for all those loudly speaking out about what Michael Richards said, what if it were your neighbor or your friend? Or your dad, even? Would you make the same condemnations? Because if you wouldn’t, there will always be more Michael Richards. I almost suspect faux outrage, like it’s making a statement to issue a condemnation to prove one’s righteousness. Make a real statement: condemn racism and idiocy in your real life.
JGray says:
I think the black guy who started the whole thing with heckling should apologize
to the white people there. I hear him enraged call Richards, “you white
cracker motherf…er.” That is a racist slur if I ever heard one.
Beth says:
Why the hell should he apologize to “the white people?” WTF is that about? Haven’t you ever been to a comedy club? Do you not know that there’s always a heckler, and race has nothing to do with the heckling?
And so what if he called him a cracker monkeybutt? After all that shi’ite Richards said, what the hell do you expect? If anything, “cracker monkeybutt” is pretty tame!
What the fuck are you thinking? Do you actually think I condone that kind of bullshi’ite you’re spewing?
LindaSoG says:
I see no correlation between what “Kramer” did and what Gibson did.
Kramer was reacting to an actual person and in his anger, and he allowed his prejudices to show.
Saying what he said is no worse than calling the guy a f*cking a-hole, either one is an insult. What if the guy was fat and Kramer called him a fat f*ck? Chances are no one would have noticed or cared.
If kramer were black and said what he said, no one would have noticed or cared either.
Meanwhile, I don’t give a shi’ite if Kramer is sorry, or if the heckler is sorry.
I don’t give a shi’ite if Mel is sorry either.
But you, JGray, you want to demand an apology from the heckler? Surely you realize that it won’t be a perfect world until people like you adhere to the same standards they demand from others.
There’s a word for those who don’t, and that word is “hypocrite.”
Wild Thing says:
I truly hate things like this. And I will never accept nor
believe any kind of apology. It does not matter if it is
from Mel Gibson or Michael Richards.
Like you said Beth it is after the fact and when one gets
caught saying something that is wrong and then only apologizes
to safe their behinds it means nothing.
Celebrities are just people no different then anyone else when it
comes to being wrong or out of line. It just shows up more because
they are well known. Responsibilty should be attacked to all of us not
just those in the public light.
It doesn’t matter what the heckler said or yelled first. Michael Richards
has been in showbiz long enough to know that and behave accordingly. Especially
comedians should be used to hecklers. Does it make it right? No, but it does not
matter. No one should stoop to the lowness of others just to tell a person off.
He could have made fun of the guy if he wanted to and still not said what he did.
But better yet would have been to ignore the heckler completely and let the audience
know on their own that the jerk in the audience was out of line.
But alas Richards is wrong and it will be with him forever how he behaved.
I wahsed the video of what he said and it was filled with true hate and much
more then just a reaction to a heckler.
Richards and Gibson both were out of line and their apoloogies mean nothing.
I agree “Make a real statement: condemn racism and idiocy in your real life.”
raz0r says:
I really could care less. People get their undies in a wad over some slight, whether real or imagined. Michael Richards screwed up, so what. The hecklers wanted to dish it out, but couldn’t handle it when it was served back to ‘em. Again, so what. People need to suck it up and grow thicker skin.
Good Richard's Almanac says:
Why Kramer Is Worse Than Mel
TMZ has a poll up asking the question. Because Kramer hates blacks while Mel just hates Jews. At least that’s what Art Levine would have us believe. Let’s let Jay Z and Russell Simmons retort… Thanks for clearing that up,…
sultan knish says:
It’s really much less about the act than about who did it. There are comedians, mostly black but different races too, who could respond to heckling with racial slurs and the audience would laugh and anyone who got outraged would be treated as uptight. Richards doing it made news because people think of him as Kramer.
MCPO Airdale says:
But, but, but. . . he’s famous!?! ;-)
Barry says:
Richards will suffer the maximum punishment in his business: he won’t get any work. Nobody will touch him. He’ll have to get an actual, real person job.
Glenn says:
I find it interesting that no one even questions the rudeness and inappropriateness of the people heckling Michael Richards. I’m sure the people that paid to get into the show weren’t planning on listening to a couple of mouthy audience members shouting out insults. I have always disliked people of any race that are devoid of manners and class. There are distinctions between different types of white folks. Wasps, rednecks, white trash etc. Many black comedians make reference to these types regularly, without so much as a raised eyebrow. Similarly Chris Rock makes distinctions between African Americans in one of his bits, citing the differences between black people and niggers. Perhaps the hecklers fell into the latter category. Like Chris Rock says in his bit about OJ killing two people, “‘I’m not saying it’s right, but I understand” While it is unfortunate that Micheal Richards allowed a couple of jerks to get under his skin and reacted in this way, I understand. I feel bad for the paying customers, whose evening was ruined. I feel bad for Michael Richards who will forever be known for this incident. I personally don’t care if the hecklers were offended, after all if you’re going to interrupt a performance, and put yourself out there, you need to be man enough to handle it.The reason people heckle is to get a reaction. I’m sure that the hecklers are now gloating. I read something that quoted someone as saying ” they should have kicked his a**” Well, what should have happened is the lame management should have done their job and thrown those clowns out.
Eve says:
I don’t even think Richards is “an asshole” as you call him in your header. He was just very unfunny and kept trying to get a joke out of it, but his brain wasn’t working. He’s prob. no more racist than anyone out there reading this, he just wasn’t funny. He bombed.
So what?
He needs writers—he’s not quick on his feet.
So crucify him.
All these idiots on the TMZ site were going nuts about this “hate crime” and I just want to say to them GET A LIFE. One of your very own. Fine…deprive yourself of ever watching “Seinfeld” again, if it suits your sanctimonious, sin-free little self. But puh-leeze. Spare us your holier-than-thou, finger-shaking,m tut-tutting judgement!!!!
Beth says:
Well, Eve, I don’t know how you can say he’s NOT an asshole. Hate crime? No, but if you think that’s normal, then I suspect you need new friends, along with an attitude adjustment.
Glenn, it’s true, hecklers are jerks. HOWEVER, there’s a way to deal with it, including removing them from the premises, but usually the comic deals with it appropriately enough that the rest of the audience heckles the heckler right out the door. Heckling happens all the time–this doesn’t. The dude’s got a farkin’ problem.
I can’t believe y’all are making excuses for this shi’ite. It disgusts me even more than his idiotic outburst. And y’all wonder why there are black folks who think white people are all racists, don’t you? :roll:
Glenn says:
Without expending too much more energy on this deceased equine flogging, I would like to respond to Beth. Yes I’m aware that since the begining of stand up, there have been hecklers. Usually they’re boorish, drunk, or filled with an inflated sense of their own cleverness. That doesn’t mean that their imput is appreciated or that everyone that steps on the stage of a comedy club is equipped to respond with a quick witted retort.
Obviously Mr Richards acted inappropriately, but as far as I can see the only injured party is Mr Richards himself. He hasn’t deprived anyone of their civil rights, denied them employment or impacted their lives in any measurable way. I don’t know if he’s a racist or not and don’t particularly care. He acted out of anger and lacked the finesse to deal with it. An emotional outburst doesn’t necessarily reflect someone’s true feelings. Who among us hasn’t said something in anger that we didn’t really mean and later regretted. As far as his routine goes, I haven’t seen it and don’t know if it includes racial topics. I realize one cannot compare an angry outburst to a comedy routine, but I have watched black comics denigrate white people as a standard part of their act and the white folks just laugh along. Maybe because of white guilt or maybe because sometimes it’s funny. Also it’s wise to remember that racism exists on both sides of the fence ( remember Jesse Jackson’s “hymie town” remark? Or certain Nation of Islam leaders referring to “white devils”?) I’m not making excuses for anyone, merely putting things in perspective. If Mr Richards has anger issues or lacks the abilty to deal with hecklers, it’s an unfortunate incident and nothing more. Maybe he needs help. The people I worry about are the ones who very calmly talk about how they hate various groups of people, not some guy who flipped out in a comedy club. Some people seem to think this is the most horrible thing that has ever happened and Michael Richards deserves to be banned from comedy and shunned from society. Maybe we should send him to prison for 5 years so he has time to think about what a terrible person he is.