Men asking for in-person apology from Richards for racist rant

Last Updated: Saturday, November 25, 2006 | 12:29 PM ET

CBC Arts

Two black men who say they were insulted by comedian Michael Richards during his racist outburst at a comedy club are demanding a formal apology and possibly financial compensation.

Attorney Gloria Allred said Friday she represents Frank McBride and Kyle Doss, who were part of a group of about 20 attending the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood last weekend.

Comedian Michael Richards is being asked to formally apologize in person to two black men for his racist rant at a comedy club.
(Louis Lanzano/Associated Press)

"[Michael Richards] has not apologized to his victims directly, face to face, man to man," said Allred, who is asking the 57-year-old comic actor to apologize to the two men in front of a retired judge who will decide on monetary damages.

The comedian has been on a road of repentance, first appearing on Late Show with David Letterman on Monday and apologizing for going into a "rage" and saying "some pretty nasty things to some Afro-Americans."

Allred said, "It's not enough to say 'I'm sorry' on David Letterman.

"He went after them. He singled them out and he taunted them, and he did it in a closed room where they were captive."

Richards's publicist said the actor has had a hard time locating the men and "wants to apologize to them directly" but would not comment on the possibility of a payout.

Richards, who played the madcap neighbour Kramer on TV’s Seinfeld, berated a group of people who were ordering drinks during his act. When someone in the group said Richards wasn't funny, the comedian launched into an obscenity-filled tirade in which he called them a racial epithet repeatedly.

The outburst was caught on video and played on a gossip website.

The video shows a few people walking out and someone saying: "It's not funny. That's why you're a reject, never had no shows, never had no movies. Seinfeld, that's it."

Richards said he went back and talked to audience members to apologize and try to explain what had occurred.

He also personally apologized to civil rights leaders Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton.