"Kramer" drops the N-bomb

[Sunrie]

I had forgot about this until my friend sent me the video on MySpace.  The guy who played Kramer on "Seinfeld" became insanely irrate at some hecklers and called the black person a Nigger.  What the video and the media doesn't show, is they were heckling him and interrupting him through the entire show.

All the attention is on him, but there is no controversy with the hecklers for calling him a cracker-*** and a stupid white boy.  Should there not be an equal amount of annoyance in the choice of words?  I understand that he is the famous one in the situation, but come on.  I thought we were all supposed to be equal?  Why is Michael Richards the one getting all the heat in this?

"Kramer" Goes Crazy

There is "strong" language, but no violence and the movie does not play right away.  Also, this is the URL to the page and not the actual media file.

[Loki]

I don't think he should be in any trouble for it, honestly. His entire act depends on him being able to think and the people in the audience being able to hear him. If you've got some douche bags talking and interupting him the entire time, they're lucky that's all they got in return. They deserve far worse.

The guy's doing this for a living. Trying to make money.

Let's say they're car salesmen (god knows what they really are). How would they react if he went to their dealership to buy a car and every time they tried to tell him something, he just started talking to his friend that he went with, and interupting the guys? They'd eventually get fed up and start cursing, too. But if it was say, Daryl Hugley, and a white guy in the audience, and Hugley starts calling him a cracker for interupting him, no one's going to say anything. Despite the fact that the words are just as negative and practically the same word, just for different skin colors. Everyone would just laugh it off and hate the guy in the audience. But no, turn it around and suddenly it's horrible.

Sorry, but I hate the African Americans that want "equal rights" that actually mean "them being on top in the sense that the white man has to treat them like gods while they can treat us like ****." And America's ****ing "Policital correctness" bull**** phase is leading them right there. If a white person says anything racial about anyone else, we're these horrible people. But if anyone says something racial about white people, it's unnoticed. Or laughed at as just a joke. I'm not entirely sure I want to stand for it anymore. I'm tired of other "races" using the "Oh, it's cause I'm not white, isn't it?" card when you say something to them. If they're a ****-up, it's not because of their skin color that you're telling them this. It's because they're an idiot who can't do anything you asked them to.

[Matt]

What the video and the media doesn't show, is they were heckling him and interrupting him through the entire show.

The reports of what happened before are ranging.

All the attention is on him, but there is no controversy with the hecklers for calling him a cracker-*** and a stupid white boy. Should there not be an equal amount of annoyance in the choice of words? I understand that he is the famous one in the situation, but come on. I thought we were all supposed to be equal?

While the responder's choice of words are unfortunate (believe me I'm not defending them), it pale's in comparison to what Richard's said. First of all, the words "cracker" and "nigger" aren't equal. Nigger is way more offensive. You can't dispute this (even if cracker may be more offensive to you personally, nigger is usually statistcally one of the top two or three most offensive words in the English language. Cracker doesn't come close). Secondly, Richard's initiated this barrage. As a fan of comedy, I know heckling is just a part of the job. Whether it's fair or not, comedians should be able to learn to deal with them without destroying their show (for instance, I have a clip of Mitch Hedberg singing a few of his jokes in response to a heckler's accusation that all his material was old). What Richards said wasn't funny, it was just racist.

Let's say they're car salesmen (god knows what they really are). How would they react if he went to their dealership to buy a car and every time they tried to tell him something, he just started talking to his friend that he went with, and interupting the guys? They'd eventually get fed up and start cursing, too. But if it was say, Daryl Hugley, and a white guy in the audience, and Hugley starts calling him a cracker for interupting him, no one's going to say anything. Despite the fact that the words are just as negative and practically the same word, just for different skin colors. Everyone would just laugh it off and hate the guy in the audience. But no, turn it around and suddenly it's horrible.

Actually, heckling is probably more like paper work. Annoying, but a reality. And again, the words aren't equal. And harassing someone is not acceptable in any form, no matter what the ethnicity. It's just when something as outrageous as this incident, it grabs people's attention.

Sorry, but I hate the African Americans that want "equal rights" that actually mean "them being on top in the sense that the white man has to treat them like gods while they can treat us like ****." And America's ****ing "Policital correctness" bull**** phase is leading them right there. If a white person says anything racial about anyone else, we're these horrible people. But if anyone says something racial about white people, it's unnoticed. Or laughed at as just a joke. I'm not entirely sure I want to stand for it anymore. I'm tired of other "races" using the "Oh, it's cause I'm not white, isn't it?" card when you say something to them. If they're a ****-up, it's not because of their skin color that you're telling them this. It's because they're an idiot who can't do anything you asked them to.

Listen to George Carlin's track "They're Only Words" on his album "Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics." Its existence pretty much destroys your argument. Also, I'm hoping you're not implying what Richards said should not have been controversial and even accepted. Harassing someone because of the color of their skin isn't comedy, it's racism.

In other news, the hecklers have decided they deserve compensation and will be represented by -- get this -- Gloria Allred. If our legal system is worth a **** this will be thrown out at first glance. Michael Richards may be an asshole, but I'll be damned if we still don't have that first ammendment thing.

[Fleamo]

Calling someone an African American implies that they are African in decent, and American.  And neither might be true.  And meanwhile there are white Africans who are Americans too, who just get called white.

In any case...

YTMND has...coverage...of this particular event.  

(Seriously, don't click this unless you have headphones on, or your family regularly contributes to the KKK)

He was just saying things to get a rise out of the guys.  He's not a racist.  

That said, cracker isn't an insult.  It's a snack food.  Black people really have to get a more offensive word for white people.

EDIT:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2674267&page=1

[Vampire Raven]

A word like that is jsut a word..I wish they'd stop acting like a white person saying it, that it "obviously" means he or she is for slavery. People should stop being so sensitive over something that's not truly present day.

Slavery happened over 100 years ago..anyone white using the word today means nothing, unless he or she actually says they hate black people, or think they should still be slaves(and I mean seriously thinks so, when in  a calm mood). Otherwise, they don't have a true right to make a fuss...

[Witless]

To be honest, he was crossing the line there. No matter how annoying someone is, he should've just called security to let them be removed or atleast joke about how they kept interrupting him, he's a 'professional' for god sake.

''50 years ago, we'd have you up side down with a ****ing fork up your ***.''

- Still funny

'' You can talk, you can talk, you can talk, you're brave now muther****er ''

- Calling the person a muther****er is already crossing the line but it's understandable.

'' Throw his *** out, he's a nigger. He's a nigger! He's a nigger! A nigger look! A nigger! ''

- Now THAT is uncalled for. Not to mention racist.

No matter what race or color, the word 'nigger' is a derogative and offensive term used back in the day that was being associated with black people.

The same way you don't call a Japanese man a 'Jap'.

Calling someone a cracker-*** ( come on, cracker-***? That's even worse than calling someone 'meanie' ) is way different than calling someone a nigger. If he would've called the person a retard or asshole, it'd would've been a whole different story.

But he's just crossing the line.

A word like that is jsut a word

I hope you die while I'm ****ing your skinny-*** mom and you're ****ing white sister in front of your American *** while stabbing them with a fork.*

Hey, hey, don't a make a fuss, they're just words.









* I dont mean it ofcourse. It was just an example.

[Vampire Raven]

The big thing that angers me is they think they have the right the anger us, but we can't anger them back..that's what it feels like to me.

Oh ,and I was only referring to the term of the "n word". Actions are different.

Oh, and, even if you were serious..The American part would have me laugh, cause honestly? I don't even consider myself American even though I live in America..

[JordAnime]

And if a black comedian did the something similar to a few white people in an audience, nobody would care.  In fact, entire comedy routines are developed by black comedians about making fun of white people.  I don't really see the big deal.

[Negoogunogumbar]

I honestly don't know why this is a news worthy story. Shouldn't we be talking about the civil war in Nepal or that whole genocide thing in Darfur? Aren't those more important than a comedian using the n-word?

Anyways I don't see the big deal. He said the n-word. It's not like he's the only person to say it. Just ignore him and get on with your life.

[Torontonian]

From what I understand the hecklers were making fun of Kramer and calling him white this and white that during his performance. If this is true then those guys should be equally punished. I'd go as far as saying that they should even be more punished than Kramer. He didnt even say anything to them in the first place. Stupid **** got nothing better to do than to cause s***.

[Loki]

Also, I'm hoping you're not implying what Richards said should not have been controversial and even accepted. Harassing someone because of the color of their skin isn't comedy, it's racism.

Oh believe me, I am. The only reason it's "one of the worst words" is because America is far too PC. And by PC, I of course mean that we, as a country, want to put the blacks on pedestals that rest on the shoulders of white men. You can say whatever racist term you can think of to a white person and "Oh it's not that bad. It's just like calling someone  a meanie." but if you say anything to a black person, even if you ARE black, you're this jackass racist that's pro-slavery and should be shot. It's ****ing bull****, and you can't deny that. Oh, and George Carlin may be a funny comedian, but he's not a sociologist, so whatever he has to say doesn't mean a damn thing. That's almost as bad as using wikipedia as a reference. It means jack **** cause anyone can say it.

I can't believe you think he should be punished. You've fallen prey to America's blind idiocy and I've honestly lost respect for you because of it.

And if a black comedian did the something similar to a few white people in an audience, nobody would care.  In fact, entire comedy routines are developed by black comedians about making fun of white people.  I don't really see the big deal.

Yep. Ever seen one of that douche Daryl Hugley's comedy acts? ALL he says is white people jokes. He has no other material. Same with most other black comedians that I see on Comedy Central. White people this, white people that. But as soon as a white person says black people this, well... "OMFGZ! RASIST!!!"

Why cant I say that I am proud to be white?? Black people say it all the time "I am proud to be black". They even have their own tv station i.e. BET.

Exactly. Blacks have all of these black only organizations, and no one calls them racist. No one claims that their organizations are all like the Black Panthers just because they only help out blacks. Yet if there are any white organizations, well then it must be a branch of the KKK because it's just a bunch of racist bastards that hate non-white people.

[The Tao Of Bill]

From what I understand the hecklers were making fun of Kramer and calling him white this and white that during his performance. If this is true then those guys should be equally punished. I'd go as far as saying that they should even be more punished than Kramer. He didnt even say anything to them in the first place. Stupid **** got nothing better to do than to cause s***.

Please be better informed about what happened before making ignorant comments...

[Geneaux486]

Please be better informed about what happened before making ignorant comments...

What was ignorant about his post?

[The Tao Of Bill]

He claims Kramer did not say anything to them in the first place. Which is very VERY untrue. Kramer started the fight.

[Bidet to you sir]

After watching that video, I can clearly say I actually think he should be punished, I laugh at racist jokes, my black friends laugh at racist jokes when they are the party being laughed at at that.
However what he said wasn't ****ing funny, it just plain wasn't.
I think the guys who threw back racist comments should be punished too, sure, but they were also provoked, provocation always should lower a punishment IMO but they shouldn't get off scot free.
And I like how this has instantly become "Black people get treated better than white people" rant by half the people.
Over here a person can make jokes about black people, White people asian people etc and get away with it, but there is a limit, and I think he crossed that limit.
Example, there was a comedian who only ever did jokes about how the Germans bombed him in the war (a very stagnant and wasted routine), when my family with the army were posted in Germany he was a comedian brought to a party set up for the soldiers.
He made all of his jokes, for about 5 minutes, before a soldier walked up on stage and smacked him in the face and told him "you crossed the line with your jokes, and if you hadn't noticed most of our wives are German, dick".
What "Kramer" did in that sketch well wasn't funny, he was letting off racist insults at people interrupting his performance, and no matter what anyone says Nigger is a much worse insult than ****er, just like you can't call an asian a chink or a white guy a honky and get away with it.

[Geneaux486]

He claims Kramer did not say anything to them in the first place. Which is very VERY untrue. Kramer started the fight.

I think he meant before the guys started heckling him.

[Torontonian]

I think he meant before the guys started heckling him.

Thank you. Thats exactly what I meant. The only reason he flipped out is because they were disturbing his performance. This is not a concert with thousands of people screaming, its a comedy act.

[Vampire Raven]

It's only an insult because they make too big a deal out of it.

if us whites can't say it, then shouldn't be allowed to say it among themselves. It's what's "equal" isn't it?

America is full of Politically Correct garbage, it sickens me.

[Link]

Gawd, I have never seen that side of Kramer.

[Matt]

Oh believe me, I am. The only reason it's "one of the worst words" is because America is far too PC. And by PC, I of course mean that we, as a country, want to put the blacks on pedestals that rest on the shoulders of white men. You can say whatever racist term you can think of to a white person and "Oh it's not that bad. It's just like calling someone a meanie." but if you say anything to a black person, even if you ARE black, you're this jackass racist that's pro-slavery and should be shot. It's ****ing bull****, and you can't deny that.

You make it sound like the derogatory connotations were invented by Hillary Clinton a couple of years ago. They've always been there, and it's always been disrespectful to call a black person a nigger. When done in a way Michael Richards did it, it's also harassment. When it comes to the reverse, it's not any better. I've heard black comedians that you describe, and I don't listen to them. Not because I think they're racist, but talentless.

Oh, and George Carlin may be a funny comedian, but he's not a sociologist, so whatever he has to say doesn't mean a damn thing. That's almost as bad as using wikipedia as a reference. It means jack **** cause anyone can say it.

My reference was not to use George Carlin's argument, but rather to show that George Carlin's argument's existence[/i] proves you wrong. It's a white guy talking about race, and *gasp* even calls Chris Rock and Richard Pryor... niggers! But no one is outraged and no one leaves because he does it in a witty way that isn't bigoted (in contrast to Michael Richards who was just being a dick).

I can't believe you think he should be punished. You've fallen prey to America's blind idiocy and I've honestly lost respect for you because of it.

I think you're missing my point. Just as Michael Richards is free to say whatever he wants on stage, I'm free not to go see his show, just as I'm sure thousands of other Americans after this incident. If that's "punishment", then so be it. But even Michael Richards isn't defending his comments, or saying the controversy isn't justified. All he's saying is the comments were driven by rage and not racism (like that makes it any better). If it's any consolation, I wouldn't go see the hecklers if they had a show either.