When it comes to the touchy subject of Michael Richards‘ infamous onstage meltdown at the Laugh Factory in 2006, in which the Emmy-winning star repeatedly hurled racial slurs at a heckler during a stand-up performance, the 63-year-old often relies on his old pal Jerry Seinfeld to open up about it. Weeks after the disturbing moment went viral and upset and stunned fans, Richards appeared via satellite during an episode of The Late Show with David Letterman when Seinfeld was a guest to apologize. (“I’m deeply, deeply sorry,” Richards told Letterman’s viewing audience.)
Richards has largely stayed out of the spotlight since the unsettling incident, but he recently appeared on Seinfeld’s web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee where the topic of the racist rant came up. “I busted up after that event. It broke me down,” Richards told his former costar. “It was a selfish response. I took it too personally. I should’ve just said, ‘You’re absolutely right, I’m not funny’.” The actor, who was last seen on screen in 2009 alongside Seinfeld during their unofficial reunion on Curb Your Enthusiasm, added, “Inside it still kicks me around a bit.”
While Richards’ legacy has been pretty badly tarnished by the shocking moment (South Park all but assured it would go down in infamy with their brilliant and scathing episode “With Apologies to Jesse Jackson”) the actor — unlike so many other stars who have done irreversible damage thanks to their controversies — seems legitimately remorseful. Does Richards have a shot at making it right? Or is it all too little too late? You can watch the moment with Richards’ and Seinfeld’s honest and sincere discussion here, and the entire, fascinating video here and decide for yourself.
More:
What’s Jerry Seinfeld Working on with Larry David, Ricky Gervais, & Alec Baldwin?
- Advertisement -
