Michael "Kramer" Richards - a racist?

[Lauren]

MR career has been at a practical standstill since Seinfield. Mel has (had?) a very wonderful acting/producing/directing career. The differece was in the loot there. Not sure if MR is Jewish or not. I don't find him funny anyway. I think he has some other issues that we are not yet aware of.:waitasec:

 

[Nova]

MR career has been at a practical standstill since Seinfield. Mel has (had?) a very wonderful acting/producing/directing career. The differece was in the loot there. Not sure if MR is Jewish or not. I don't find him funny anyway. I think he has some other issues that we are not yet aware of.:waitasec:

A number of his co-workers have come out to say they don't think MR has issues with blacks, just an anger control issue with anyone who crosses him.

 

[Peter Hamilton]

Julia--Michael Richards is Jewish, as I 've posted before

 

[Peter Hamilton]

Nova, I don't think any of his co-workers would say otherwise, no matter what they heard from him

 

[Nova]

Nova, I don't think any of his co-workers would say otherwise, no matter what they heard from him

Maybe not, but the comments to which I refer are by no means complimentary. I'm not at all sure they would cover for Richards.

Why do you keep insisting MR is Jewish? I've found one neo-Nazi site that says he is; but the Jewish Journal (rather more reputable) says he is not. Seems to me the matter is at least in doubt.

 

[Jacobi]

Julia--Michael Richards is Jewish, as I 've posted before

I also think he is Jewish, but if you can settle this issue with a link to a biography or article, please do so. The only proof I can find is a quote from his PR guru.

As for his co-stars speaking up, how many are black co-stars...?

 

[Nova]

I also think he is Jewish, but if you can settle this issue with a link to a biography or article, please do so. The only proof I can find is a quote from his PR guru.

As for his co-stars speaking up, how many are black co-stars...?

None among those I've seen quoted. But one might argue white co-stars would be more likely to know what sort of language MR uses as a rule, particularly in private. It's rare for even the worst racists to openly fling racial epithets at black people.

But my point in mentioning those quotes wasn't to prove that MR isn't racist (one of those negatives that can never be proved, actually), but to say he seems to have anger management issues.

As for whether MR is Jewish, I still don't know, but I wonder how much it matters. I'm not Jewish, but I find anti-semitic remarks infuriating - particularly when such remarks come from members of other minority groups, because they really ought to know better. (No, I don't respond by calling people . I'm just saying it makes more sense to me why MR went that particular route in responding, rather than, say, insulting the heckler's hat.)

 

[Peter Hamilton]

This is getting surreal--The owner of the Laugh Factory has invited Kramer back to the club for next week and Kramer accepted,knowing that the owner stated that everyone who was in the club that infamous night will be there that night next week also--The owner also outlawed any use of the "N" word by any comic in his club from now on---so Kramer ain't finished just yet but can you imagine the tension there'll be that night?

 

[Masterj]

This is getting surreal--The owner of the Laugh Factory has invited Kramer back to the club for next week and Kramer accepted,knowing that the owner stated that everyone who was in the club that infamous night will be there that night next week also--The owner also outlawed any use of the "N" word by any comic in his club from now on---so Kramer ain't finished just yet but can you imagine the tension there'll be that night?

I wouldn't want to be there. IMO the owner of the Laugh Factory is trying to get some more publicity from the event.

 

[Nova]

I wouldn't want to be there. IMO the owner of the Laugh Factory is trying to get some more publicity from the event.

Probably. But the club is a longtime L.A. institution and the owner has known Richards, Seinfeld, Alexander, Louis-Dreyfuss, etc., for decades.

There may be a legitimate desire to put an end to this.

(ETA: I don't think comics/club owners, etc., are necessary sympathetic to racists, but they probably know all too well about pushing the line with humor. And sometimes fall over the edge.)

 

[itsreenw]

WoW, is all I can really say at the moment.

I read lots of the commments too some of those were pretty scary to read.

-Just cast my vote for your DD. She's adorable.

 

[Peter Hamilton]

Oops--I was wrong--Michael Richards is not Jewish, after all---Howard Rubenstein said that he was incorrect when he stated Kramer was Jewish, rather that Kramer "considered himself Jewish because of Jewish mentors"---Kramer's parents were not Jewish and he has not converted

 

[Jacobi]

Oops--I was wrong--Michael Richards is not Jewish, after all---Howard Rubenstein said that he was incorrect when he stated Kramer was Jewish, rather that Kramer "considered himself Jewish because of Jewish mentors"---Kramer's parents were not Jewish and he has not converted

That Rubenstein had me fooled for a minute. Conveniently, Richards is now quasi-Jewish, just enough to explain away his anti-semitic rants earlier in the year. Nice PR spin by Rubenstein.

Oh well, I guess it really doesn't matter since this whole issue has now been twisted into being about anger management rather than deep-seeded racial prejudice.

 

[Nova]

That Rubenstein had me fooled for a minute. Conveniently, Richards is now quasi-Jewish, just enough to explain away his anti-semitic rants earlier in the year. Nice PR spin by Rubenstein.

Oh well, I guess it really doesn't matter since this whole issue has now been twisted into being about anger management rather than deep-seeded racial prejudice.

I got a chance to speak with my co-worker who knows MR well. (They have been friends for 7 or 8 years and dated heavily through several of those years.)

She says MR is not Jewish, but he was upset by the anti-semitic heckling nonetheless.

She says MR is very upset and ashamed by what he did.

She says she has never seen MR lose his temper and that he has always been a very nice guy in her presence.

She also says she doesn't find him funny and has never watched Seinfeld. Apparently, being funny is something MR does as a job, not something he does all the time.

 

[LinasK]

I'm just not sure why Mel Gibson's outburst is being regarded so much more harshly by most people. At least his words were fueled by alcohol and anger at the cop who stopped him. That makes his loss of control more understandable to me.

Because the alcohol just loosened Mel's inhibitions. That was his real self talking. He has a history of anti-semitism, as does his father.:razz: F.Y.I. the cop was Jewish, does that make it acceptable???:banghead: Mel's apology was phony as was his bid to enter rehab, it's only a way to salvage his career. I'll never see another Mel Gibson movie again. :snooty: Cross him off my list just like Woody Allen- child molester, married to his daughter!:sick:

Mel also endangered lives by driving drunk in addition to his disgusting words.

 

[Jacobi]

I got a chance to speak with my co-worker who knows MR well. (They have been friends for 7 or 8 years and dated heavily through several of those years.)

She says MR is not Jewish, but he was upset by the anti-semitic heckling nonetheless.

She says MR is very upset and ashamed by what he did.

She says she has never seen MR lose his temper and that he has always been a very nice guy in her presence.

She also says she doesn't find him funny and has never watched Seinfeld. Apparently, being funny is something MR does as a job, not something he does all the time.

Interesting details, Nova.

 

[Masterj]

I got a chance to speak with my co-worker who knows MR well. (They have been friends for 7 or 8 years and dated heavily through several of those years.)

She says MR is not Jewish, but he was upset by the anti-semitic heckling nonetheless.

She says MR is very upset and ashamed by what he did.

She says she has never seen MR lose his temper and that he has always been a very nice guy in her presence.

She also says she doesn't find him funny and has never watched Seinfeld. Apparently, being funny is something MR does as a job, not something he does all the time.

Thanks for the scoop Nova. I found the bolded sentence above really interesting. I can't believe your friend has never watched Seinfeld!

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Thanks for the scoop Nova. I found the bolded sentence above really interesting. I can't believe your friend has never watched Seinfeld!

I've only seen it a handful of times. I've never watched "Friends" either. I know, I'm a dork. LOL

 

[Nova]

Thanks for the scoop Nova. I found the bolded sentence above really interesting. I can't believe your friend has never watched Seinfeld!

It makes perfect sense to me that she doesn't find Richards funny in person. I've always thought of him as more of an actor, than a comedian. Of course, his willingness to commit fully to outrageous characters makes him funny to us, but he never performed "Kramer" as if Kramer were funny to him.

 

[2sisters]

I've only seen it a handful of times. I've never watched "Friends" either. I know, I'm a dork. LOL

I have never seen an episone of Melrose Place and people have problems with that.