Michael Richards, who starred as Cosmos Kramer on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, was caught up in a widely publicized controversy that caused a setback to his career in 2006. During a stand-up comedy performance, Richards delivered a racially charged tirade, employing offensive language and racial slurs targeting African Americans. This regrettable incident, caught on video, swiftly went viral, eliciting widespread outrage and condemnation.
In his upcoming memoir, Entrances and Exits, scheduled to be released to bookstores in June next year, the actor shares a candid reflection on his life and career. Richards further shed light on the turning point in his journey as a comedian and his time on Seinfeld.
Michael Richards regrets his 2006 racial outburst
at the Television Academy’s 70th Anniversary Celebration Gala, Television Academy, North Hollywood, CA 06-02-16
In the book, Richards detailed his regrettable on-stage outburst, which shocked his fans and served as the catalyst for his retreat from the public eye. He acknowledged that his action on that fateful day was a mistake.
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“My book is a hymn to the irrational, the senseless spirit that breaks the whole into pieces, a reflection on the seemingly absurd difficulties that intrude upon us all,” the intro of the book reads. “It’s like Harpo Marx turning us about, shaking up my plans, throwing me for a loop. Upset and turmoil is with us all the time.”
“It’s at the basis of comedy. It’s the pratfall we all take,” he added, shedding light on the 2006 incident. “It’s the unavoidable mistake we didn’t expect. It’s everywhere I go. It’s in the way that I am, both light and dark, good and not-so-good. It’s my life.”
He enjoyed his time on ‘Seinfeld’
The actor also shared his experience on Seinfeld, which aired for nine seasons from 1989 to 1998. Richards reminisced on his camaraderie with co-stars Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Jason Alexander, highlighting the bond between them and how they significantly contributed to making his time on the show enjoyable.
“Truly, a four in one, whole and so charged with inspiration, naturally this charge created us,” he noted. “It motivated us to work hard, to unfold greatness, to elevate comedy, and to serve it as gracefully as possible.”