what is your opinion about the michael richards tirade? is he truely a racist, did he just flip out, or what?

Maybe he just got mad.

Those of us who do not know Mr. Richards personally will never know if he is truly a racist, but clearly there was nothing funny about his actions that night. I'm glad he made an effort to apologize, but this will follow him throughout his career, what's left of it, and will more than likely affect him where it hurts - the wallet!! I hope the comedy club offered a refund or at least an opportunity to come back or something to make up for what was supposed to be fun and laughs and was nothing close. I guess the audience can say they will always remember the night he burned his career. It's a shame because I used to enjoy him on Seinfeld.

There is alot of racism that is "acceptable" in comedy clubs. Hacks who are trying to be edgy whip out the N word to get approval. Usually these comics talk like that within the closed ranks and day to day of the scene. But when Richards acted that way to audience members from stage it showcased his undignified attempt at keeping, what he obviously perceived as a pro-racist audience, "with him" as he dealt with the hecklers.

He's not real or genuine enough to be performing stand-up. When people love a comedian they love them because they can feel their humanity while enjoying the talent. This guy is a two-bit actor who has neither. Loudmouths in the audience sensed that he was not being real and they went for the jugular to see if he bled; they poked at him to see if he was a friggin' human and he proved unfortunately he was.

It's easy to tell someone to "get over" something like this, but that's a comment so ridiculous that I'm not going to bother explaining why it's so absurd. But anyway, I honestly think Michael Richards thought that his comments would offend them the most @ that particular moment. Kinda low, and senselesss, but he's paying for it. Don't think he's a racist, but he's learning that sometimes the things you say have so much bite that they turn around and bite you in the ***. It will be old news soon enough.

People say things out loud that are cruel. Maybe, he was thinking those thoughts and it just came out. I'm white and I had a female boss years ago that was black. We always were kidding around with the race thing, but both of us were educated enough to know that we were just kidding. Now, if someone walked up to us and heard what we were saying, it would be another story. People that are in the lime light will always have to watch what they say, like Mel Gibson, I adore the man, but that is just what he is a man and not Jesus Christ-the only perfect person that has walked on this earth. And even he got angry. So, it's up to you to decided what is acceptable for you.

It does not offend me what so ever, the mere fact is he was thinking of it long before this unfortunate scene happens. But here is my problem. Black People attempt to say the 'N' word out of terms of endearment when everyone are friends. But they are fighting eachother calling eachother that 'N' word all those terms of endearment are thrown out of the window. When black people piss me off at work ... I come home and say .. " N--gas get on my last nerves " .. and when I use that word I seriously mean it in a Negative, demeaning way. So to me it's the all time cliche " How can you take care of someone else when you can't even handle your own "

I Think He Must Be a Perfectionist and VERY self-critical When He got Heckled He just Lost it! It Crushed his Inflated Ego, Embarrassed Him and he Blew up..I also think he is a Racist because what he said was pretty Bad! I cant Believe that coming from Kramer!

I think he just got seriously ticked off, and he realized that the only way to get them equally pissed was to call them that name.... so big deal.... poeple should just get over it, black people call white people crakers everyday... I think that's being a rasict too! why is it a big deal if a white person says out loud the "n" word.... if black people dont like it they should just stop using it all together and stop making it sound ok to use.... all races suck! and as for those "A holes" they need to get a life and stop stirring up the lives of others...

He looked pretty shaken during his apology on Lettermen the other night, but let's face it he's pretty much dropped out of the public eye the last few years. I'm not convinced this wasn't a publicity ploy to get him some exposure.

Quite often a persons true feelings come out in a fit of rage.

Yeah, he got seriously pissed off at those particular guys who were obviously doing thier best to piss him off. So then he called THEM a name, not everyone in thier race. Why are people offended when someone is not directing the insult at them?