News | Entertainment
6 Mar 2026 11:45
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
     06 Mar: Logan Paul tried to bid more than $1 million for Hulk Hogan's old wrestling boots
     06 Mar: Cara Delevingne is working on her "self-control" when using "terrifying" social media platforms
     06 Mar: Zendaya has married Tom Holland in secret, according to her stylist Law Roach
     06 Mar: Sinners was the big winner at the Actor Awards
     06 Mar: Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez didn't attend the Actor Awards after the death of Martin's daughter Katherine
     06 Mar: Harrison Ford teared up as he received his Life Achievement Award at the Actor Awards on Sunday (01.03.26)
     06 Mar: Tina Fey is reportedly hosting the launch episode of Saturday Night Live UK
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones believes newly appointed All Blacks mentor Dave Rennie has time to deliver at next year's World Cup More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Consumer spending has increased in February, signalling a positive recovery within the retail sector More...



     Today's News

    International:
    Beirut under threat in rapidly widening war as Israel threatens to 'bring hell' on Lebanese capital 11:37

    Entertainment:
    Logan Paul tried to bid more than $1 million for Hulk Hogan's old wrestling boots 11:35

    International:
    Inside Iran, some citizens are already preparing for 'freedom day' 11:17

    Environment:
    All fire permits are suspended in the Queenstown Lakes District - as hot and windy weather has raised the fire risk to extreme 11:07

    Entertainment:
    Cara Delevingne is working on her "self-control" when using "terrifying" social media platforms 11:05

    Auckland:
    A post-mortem will be carried out today on the person who died in a fire in Auckland's Otahuhu on Wednesday night 10:47

    National:
    Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s presumed next supreme leader? And would he bring change – or more brutal suppression? 10:37

    Entertainment:
    Zendaya has married Tom Holland in secret, according to her stylist Law Roach 10:35

    National:
    New modelling shows renewable electricity can meet NZ’s future demand – without importing gas 10:27

    Living & Travel:
    Emirates will be running a pair of flights out of Dubai to New Zealand tonight 10:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd