How much will it cost for the absolution of Michael Richards? When I saw the video of Richards' racist tirade, I thought as most of us, 'What an ass.' Recently, Richards appeared on Jesse Jackson's program and now there are calls for him to pay money to those who he offended. Why? He said he was sorry and whether or not you believe him, it's over. Lets move on.

In France Richards would have been arrested for those comments. Of course there's freedom of speech in our country, even when overt racism is concerned(unfortunately)...Richards has used his word against himself. He's the one who'll be enslaved by those brutal comments -a double edged sword... I hope the people insulted will get over taking it personally.

Richard's simply has the right to dislike whomever he pleases. If you don't like his racism,don't go see him. To Hal2814 regarding the Apollo...almost every comedian I have ever watched from there has made racist remarkes somewhere in their routine. The only difference here is that white audiences of black comedians seldom go running to the press everytime they hear a racist remark. The race-baiters do exactly this and I guess they enjoy their work. To me racism is saying it's ok for blacks to use the "N" word,but not for me...because I'm white? Isn't using my skin color racism??? Have you noticed that Black people will jump on anybody they feel is racist,excep their own? Every race on this Earth is racist to some extent..we just need to learn get over it.....

What a butt hole !

Jerry Seinfeld is full of it. The only thing he's worried about is that the sales of his Seinfeld DVDs and syndication of his show will suffer and therein cause him to lose tons of money. If this goes the wrong way, stations across the country will drop his show like a hot potato. No wonder he's doing damage control.

If I had a dime for every time I've yelled, muttered or thought while driving;, "Stupid f*cking chinks!" I'd be a millionare by now.

it was the "hanging" that made me cry... just look at us...my gosh, look at us...i went to hug my 8 year old son...

WHat is wrong with the Kramer? He hate the Nigger like I hate the JEw. I Make 25 million opening day and he has to apologize on the letterman. Jagesmash!

what violence?! what seperatism?!

the quote is from the all-knowing miquel.

you should read the exchange if you want to respond to it. what have i said that would 'get me hurt'? oh well, you already see my 'true colors'. pfft.

Wow, I never knew white separatists were on gothamist? what's with the violence, dug?

so, you do know what you say will get you hurt? how do you know that? we see your true colors.

"Most of the white people who post here have NO black friends. If you do, I'd dare you to share ANY of your comments here and see how they react."

and how does that not imply courageless and isolated white folks? that we don't have the courage to say what we think to our black friends for fear of how they'd react? is having "NO black friends" somehow different from being isolated? you have an awful lot of insight into people you've never met, don't you think?

does your 'cultural education' include something on how to make baseless claims with qualifiers like 'most'... you know, so you can't be held accountable for making personal attacks outside the debate.

keep backpedaling, miquel.

I don't think anyone is defending his rant - it was ugly and everyone knows it, especially Richards himself. Though, I think he does harbor some deep-seated issues - that video where he repeatedly says "blacks" is a little difficult to watch. I kept expecting for him to slip and say "coloreds" or something equally offensive.

My comments, as well as those of a few others, were more to the 'dialog' on racism that so many people (say that they) want to have.

Only the dialog these people usually want is one-sided.

Racism has been bent in our society to mean a white man stereotyping or using disparaging labels for a minority. Full stop and I don't find that tunnel vision particularly fair or useful.

I would never equate Richards' rant with the comedy of Chappelle, however the latter uses stereotypes that would never fly in reverse. But hey, if you're smiling it doesn't matter what you say, right?

Same with Carlos Mencia, only he isn't even remotely funny.

"blanket pigeon-holing of the entire gothamist readership as courageless, isolated white folks. but thanks for your 'cultural education'."

...Never used the words: entire, couragless, isolated, or white folks, but good try.

I also usually qualify things that don't apply to all as most.

I agree w/ Ace. Some people are just so rigid and stubborn that no matter what they have to stay the course...

I find it amazing that some people are actually trying to defend Richards in this. For anyone who watched him on Letterman, you could tell that he wasn't going to try. He was deeply ashamed, and rightfully so. End. What can he possibly do to make it right? Nothing. Its out there, and, based on what I saw last night, it doesn't necessarily seem to be a representation of him as person. So why is everyone here acting out their deep seated hatred and racism in response to an apology admonishing that very same thing? Freakin idiots.

supposedly sophisticated NYers who happen to be bored, or are just enjoying voicing their opinions on a subject, and listing to others.......

did you even hear what the hecklers were saying prior to his racist tirade? no, dig dugg, that's the point. an apology does not 'confirm' anything but regret and an attempt to take a higher road.

and miquel, among your other pointless comments, i was referring to your blanket pigeon-holing of the entire gothamist readership as courageless, isolated white folks. but thanks for your 'cultural education'.

Why does anyone care about this ridiculous story? Does it really matter if some actor is a racist or anti-semite? Will a single life be impacted by the opinions of an idiot who stands in front of cameras reading lines for a living? This story is just another example of the celebrity obsession that afflicts so many supposedly sophisticated NYers.

And like dig dug said, you can see him digging himself deeper. I think he was trying to go several different ways with it and what came out shocked him.

Right after he strings five n-bombs together with a clear R at the end of each, he starts to say the word differently, using the n-word with an A. Watch the video. I think he was so mortified by his own words that he immediately started damage control.

But he knows it's too late as the crowd starts to disperse and he is left muttering the kind of nonsense I'm guessing people say when they envision their entire life's work being sucked down the tubes...

Too bad Richards wasn't doing his "comedy" at the Apollo. Then that racist sack of sh*t would find out what heckling really is. Stick a fork in him, he's done.

The video that he appeared in is a SPECIFIC example of Michael Richards referring to an African American as a N-, 5 times. The content, which I have viewed speaks for itself. Richards himself appeared on Letterman to apologize for his comments, which simply confirms that this actually happened and he is responsible for saying those things.

There is very little you could do to explain his actions to me or provide context that would in any way lead me to the conclusion that these are not racist comments.

I never said Michael Richards was racist. I don't know him. These comments are.

I never said the hecklers' use of cracker was OK, I just agree with him that the comments were uncalled for and inapproriate.

Specific enough?