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By Adrian Pascua
By Adrian Pascua
Imagine a place where racism existed, and there was a guy on stage yelling about it. That was the scene at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood as Michael Richards blew up the stage with racist slurs.
After being continuously heckled by two black men in the audience that night, Richards exploded with a chain of racist slurs.
The racial epithets were mostly directed at blacks. The Laugh Factory has suggested that Richards make a $6 million donation-$1 million for each time he used the “n-word.”
After three minutes of bigoted ranting, people in the audience left the club disgusted. I don’t blame them.
Richards earned his fame on the popular television show “Seinfeld,” playing the part of Cosmo Kramer, the awkward but lovable neighbor and friend. After his tirade at the Laugh Factory, I doubt that anyone will ever remember him as fondly again.
He later went on David Letterman’s “Late Show” to apologize for his actions that night.
“For me to be at a comedy club and flip out and say this crap, I’m deeply, deeply sorry,” said Richards as he expressed his apologies for that night. His response to the crowd that night was unprofessional and uncalled for.
Richards may not be a racist, but as a comedian and TV personality, he should have been able to keep his cool even under such pressure.
Even if he lost his cool, using racial profanity is way out of line. He had no right to say the things he said, nor does anyone who would also be in his position. The sad truth is because he is considered a celebrity, he should be extremely cautious of what he says out loud.
The words he used to vent were inexcusable; using words of racism is disrespectful and unforgivable. Although Richards’ self control did lose to his anger, he did do the right thing by apologizing on the “Late Show.” His frustration is understandable, as well his outburst.
Richards is still human. If that still means something, then it is understood that he’s going to make mistakes. Even though a mistake like this may ruin his career, it’s really up to him to make amends for what he did.
Despite the fact that he has apologized for his actions, he still pissed off half of the country by doing what he did.
He’s not the first comedian to be heckled while he was on stage and he won’t be the last. Letting his emotions get the better of him is not something Richards can afford.
Because he let his emotion get out of control, he may never work another comedy club again. Michael Richards will be infamously immortalized as that one comic who lost his mind because of a couple of critics in the audience.
When you are a performer, you have to expect that at some point the audience will be rude, disrespectful and unforgiving. However, the times your character shows the most are in the situations where you have the crowd against you.
After what happened that night in West Hollywood, Michael Richards will never be able to take back what he said.
This should serve as a lesson to anyone who lives their life in the limelight.
Given the situation he was in, and the pressure he was under, I’m not surprised at the fact that Richards could not control his temper.
Yet at the same time, I am shocked by the fact that he would lower himself to making racist comments as a way to vent.
Out of all the people in the world I never expected someone like Michael Richards to do what he did. Maybe it is not saying much, but I’m actually kind of disappointed.
