News | Entertainment
28 Feb 2026 5:31
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Michael Richards could have his Laugh Factory comedy club ban lifted years after his infamous racist rant at the venue

    The 'Seinfeld' actor, 74, who made a fortune and was skyrocketed to global fame playing Kramer on the hit comedy sitcom was filmed unleashing a tirade of racial slurs during a stand-up show at the spot in Los Angeles in 2006


    It led to the actor being barred from the club for life, but owner Jamie Masada has now said he might allow him back - if he has learned "the error of his ways".

    Jamie told TMA he "believes in second chances and doesn't want to hold a grudge".

    But the outlet reported Michael - who has just published his memoir 'Entrances and Exits' - is not looking to use the book to make a return to the limelight in stand-up shows, TV or with promotional appearances to promote the memoir.

    TMZ said Jamie says he was at the club the night Michael let rip with his racial slurs, and questioned Michael's take on what happened.

    The actor says in his book he over-reacted when a heckler told him he "wasn't funny".

    But according to TMZ, Jamie says there were no proactive heckles.

    He says a group of guests were talking during Michael's set and only when he demanded to know what they were talking about did one reply with the put-down he wasn't funny.

    Michael says in his book at the time of the incident he was still hurting from the failure of his post-'Seinfeld' sitcom 'The Michael Richards Show' - which lasted only eight episodes in 2000.

    He adds in the autobiography he heard talking coming from the balcony before he exploded in rage, and yelled: "Shut the f*** up!" - to the delight of the audience.

    Michael says he then heard someone from the balcony call out: "You're not funny. We don't think you're very funny!"

    Michael admitted he took the insult "pretty hard" and called it a "solid punch below the belt".

    He swerves detailing exactly what he said during his tirade - which featured him shouting into the audience: "Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f****** fork up your ass" before calling one of his hecklers the n- word.

    Michael says in his book: "Of course, looking back at all, I wish I had just agreed with (my heckler.)

    "He went low and I went even lower. We both ended up at the bottom of the barrel."

    Michael added the words "You're not funny" kept running through his mind at the time of the incident, saying: "He laid it out so clearly, so simply, my biggest fear - not being funny.

    "Later, I'll come to realise that all of this, everything he said, is me. His voice is my voice. This is all ME going on. My inferiority sets in. My anger erupts."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     27 Feb: Drew Barrymore travels down "memory lane" when looking at pictures of herself from her 1990s heyday
     27 Feb: Cruz Beckham's 21st birthday celebrations have gone on for a week
     27 Feb: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at the World Health Organisation's country office in Amman
     27 Feb: Jameela Jamil has called out women at the BAFTAs for being "scarily thin"
     27 Feb: Sinitta has described her marriage to Andy Willner as a "revenge move" aimed at Simon Cowell
     27 Feb: Jennifer Garner has spoken candidly about the realities of co-parenting her three children with her former husband
     27 Feb: Martin Short endured a series of personal tragedies before the death of his daughter Katherine Hartley Short - including the deaths of his parents, brother and former wife
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Fa'alogo Tana Umaga is reminding his players the only thing they can control is their own effort More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Commerce Commission has issued guidance on changes to gift card rules More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A 26-year-old will face court after allegedly trying to steal a necklace worth more than 70 thousand dollars from Auckland's CBD 5:16

    International:
    Crown prince Reza Pahlavi on US military intervention in Iran and how a post Islamic Republic 'transition' would work 4:36

    Entertainment:
    Drew Barrymore travels down "memory lane" when looking at pictures of herself from her 1990s heyday 21:51

    Entertainment:
    Cruz Beckham's 21st birthday celebrations have gone on for a week 21:21

    Rugby:
    Fa'alogo Tana Umaga is reminding his players the only thing they can control is their own effort 21:17

    Entertainment:
    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at the World Health Organisation's country office in Amman 20:51

    Entertainment:
    Jameela Jamil has called out women at the BAFTAs for being "scarily thin" 20:21

    Entertainment:
    Sinitta has described her marriage to Andy Willner as a "revenge move" aimed at Simon Cowell 19:51

    Entertainment:
    Jennifer Garner has spoken candidly about the realities of co-parenting her three children with her former husband 19:21

    Soccer:
    A huge 8-nil win over Samoa for the Football Ferns in their Fifa World Cup qualifier in Honiara 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd