Michael Richards

[Deleted]

Regarding Jerry Seinfeld "defending" him... With things like this, I've tried to put myself in the "defender's" position. For instance, if a dear friend, whom I'd never seen exhibit racism, suddenly came out with the kind of filth Richards did, I might go into a slight bit of denial. I might force myself to believe that it was an aberration. Yes, I realize I'd be fooling myself, but I'm human and would probably do mental back-flips (at least initially) to convince myself that there was an "innocent" explanation. Loyalty can be misguided.

Anyhow, on top of the OJ Simpson "If I'd Done It" proposition (thankfully aborted) this has been an incredibly shocking news week.

[hobocamp]

Yesterday a CNN anchorwoman introduced the video with "Richards was dropping f-bombs and the n-word like it was going out of style." Pretty poor choice of words there, darlin'.

[Binky]

Yeah, Seinfeld seemed very careful NOT to defend Richards. And his story later about handling hecklers without going into a rant only highlighted what a normal person does in response, instead of acting like a racist lunatic.

Although, what could Richards say to make the situation remotely better? For instance, I hate coconuts. I think they taste bad and ruin food as ingredients. I could totally start ranting about coconuts sucking. And if I was caught, I could apologize and beg for forgiveness, but it wouldn't change the fact that I hate coconuts. Richards is a racist. Mel Gibson is anti-semitic. Isaiah Washington is anti-gay. Apologies don't change feelings.

[ernestine]

pinkdog said:

And we have to remember that Jerry has a franchise to protect; Richards is damaging Seinfeld's reputation. It is only smart business for Seinfeld to try to smooth it all over. Y'no?

This is exactly my take on it. Jerry is disgusted, but unwilling to let Michael ruin people's perception of his show. If he did that, people might not watch the reruns (off which he is still making millions) or buy the DVD's (another source of huge income). He HAS to try and salvage this, and I'm not bothered by the way he's gone about it.

It really has ruined my enjoyment of the show. Hopefully not permanently, but I really don't think I can EVER get the same enjoyment out of Kramer again, knowing he's a racist.

The lynching image was soooo evil to me... Boy, is he clueless.

[margojata]

Yeah, I kinda felt sorry for Jerry. He was already booked on the show (promoting a Seinfeld DVD, no less), and he really did look shocked. I can imagine how rattled you would be if you didn't know that your friend possessed this evil side. Anyway, it backfired badly. The audience didn't have a clue what they were talking about, and there's really no way to set it up - what, were they going to show the TMZ video and then let him apologize? And then he rambled so badly about the problems between blacks and whites since Katrina - as if he wasn't the one with the problem!

[msdw59]

nedsdag said:

So what excuse will Michael Richards use? Alcohol or a troubled childhood?

You forgot

• drugs (coke, hash, crack, weed, meth, etc., etc., etc.)
  
  
• troubled marriage
  
  
• alien invaded my body.
  

In other words there is no damn excuse.

[Wol]

Isn't Jerry trying to do damage control because there's a new Seinfeld DVD season coming out now? I thought that's why he was booked on Letterman to begin with, to promote the new DVD package.

[GirlyGhoul]

Yeah that does put Jerry in a tough position. What can he say: "It's true, Michael Richards is a horrible racist and everyone should boycott all his projects! Now please go out and buy this new Seinfeld DVD...... OOOOPS!!"

[ginseng]

I thought Jerry's statement was perfectly appropriate. He bascially said he was disgusted and that it was inexcusable. I'm sure Michael Richards IS sick about it, watching his career nose dive in an instant.

[discoprincess]

ginseng said:

I'm sure Michael Richards IS sick about it, watching his career nose dive in an instant.

What's left of his career, that is.

I finally saw part of the footage online...oh, geez, is it awful. Sickening. No way can you explain that away as just a joke, especially since he continued ranting after the alleged hecklers told MR that his comments were uncalled for.