What does everyone think of this Michael Richards thing?

Michael Richards showed his true nature. He's a racist pig. He could, and should, have cursed those two guys out AS INDIVIDUALS for being so rude as to heckle him during his standup set.

But, instead, he attacked them AS BLACK PEOPLE and threatened to have them kicked out of the club just for being African American and to have them lynched!

America has a long ugly racial history, and Michael Richards should have been more sensitive to that!!

How would Richards like it if a Black comic told a Jewish heckler that he should go to Auchwitz and be put in the gas chamber!!??!!!

I think his comments were absolutely disgusting. The n-word has very negative connotations. If everyone knew the historical meaning behind the word, I think it would offend everyone. I don't think his comments were bound by free speech. There are exceptions to every rule. No one should be put down by another - period. It's no different than children being teased by other kids. Words DO hurt. I think Michael Richards, in the heat of the moment, revealed what his thoughts REALLY are. No one could possibly convince me that the came up with those comments off the top of his head because he was angry. He's supposed to to be a professional comedian and should, after years in the business, be able to effectively handle hecklers in the audience. In no way am I defending the hecklers either. If they were not satisfied with his stand up routine, they could have simply left without saying a word. I think both sides were wrong in the way they handled the entire situation. And for some audience members to sit there and chuckle at Michael's comments was even more upsetting. Michael's comments, in my opinion, were NOT acceptable. And those who are okay with what he said are even more disgusting than he is.

No it's MOST DEFINITELY NOT being blown out of proportion. No one has a right to say anything that he said. I think it's absolutely horrible, if it was white people in the audience doing that would he have done the same thing? No I believe he probably would have felt inferior and embarrassed. But since he was African Americans doing it he just got pissed and thought they were inferior to him, which they are NOT! He had to think they were inferior after hearing some of the things he said, he's a complete OLD ***, someone that is washed over and is pissed about it. So maybe he wasn't funny, but he puts himself out there in the public eye, I think he should know by now he is going to get all types of criticism whether it be positive or negative. And if he was a professional he would have never blurted out such profanity. He makes me cringe, he makes me feel ashamed to be Caucasian. And it's not just him I can't stand it when ANY person tries to use some type of racial slurs. I substitute teach, and I've gotten on to a little white boy for saying something rude to his class mate about his skin color. It's all completely ridiculous, we are all the same... I hate HATE.

I am a little confused by the situation to be honest with you . I see plenty of other comedians doing the same thing-like Chris Rock and Dave Chappell why isn't anything being said about them? I also see black comedians saying the N word, if it is offensive why do they say it and no one cares? Michael Richards did a dumb thing and he should apologize big time and so should everyone else who does this kind of thing. People really need to get along.

what is being blown out of proportion is how everyone is belittling the situation and making it as if Black people are upset because he used the N word and how they can't take jokes. Well if he was making joke then it would've been funny but he actually was showing his true colors. He was upset because of some ignorant hecklers stated he wasn't funny-so the first thing that comes out of his mouth when he is angry at African Americans is the N word or lynching? come on now, he straight up was wrong for that, and he shouldn't be slapped on the wrist his career needs to be over because he imposed his racist beleifs on a crowd who didn't care for that language...

I mean come on.... what would you do if someone was making you the butt of their jokes? It was just a line of defense for Michael. It was probably the first thing he could think of b/c he knew it would get to them. I know there's people on here that have said something they don't mean.... yes, it was wrong... but it is definately being blown out of proportion. He didn't have to apologize but he did he deserves a little credit.

i do not think it is being blown out of proportion...a stand up comdeian knows that there are always a heclker in the audience and prepares for it and the rest of the audience turns against the heckler....he was unprepared and not a good stand up...he was better in a tv comedy....he lost it big time and there is no excuse for the way he acted..even people that worked with him and know him say he lost it and it might be the end of any career in the business of entertainment...he should get a day job, take a anger management course or three of them....

Heckling happens in comedy clubs all the time. He lost his cool and true he said some things that are still very taboo for a white comic to say, but he said his sorry. I think it's just because he's a celeb that people want to burn him at the steak. Lets face it, we love to see a famous people go down in flames.

Yes, the "N" word is said by blacks in comedy, song and even in anger but as soon as someone else says it, it becomes a racial slurr,epithat. It's bullshit! Blacks and every other race also makes jokes about whites but nothing is ever said or done about it.

Richards should have just called him a F U C K I N G A S S H O L E !!! Or an Ethiopian Porch Monkey !!

I think he knows he's a has-been and used this for publicity. If he didn't, the Klan is looking for a few good men. He needs to join.