News | Entertainment
28 Feb 2026 22:12
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
     28 Feb: Justin Trudeau's son approves of his romance with Katy Perry
     28 Feb: Lupita Nyong'o has "over 50" uterine fibroids
     28 Feb: Hilary Duff has admitted she "intentionally" gatecrashed the premiere of her "childhood nemesis" Lindsay Lohan's movie Freaky Friday
     28 Feb: Christian Bale appears to have confirmed he will join the cast of Heat 2
     28 Feb: Barbra Streisand has paid tribute to Jennifer Aniston following the actress' recent birthday and her growing relationship with Jim Curtis
     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
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Chiefs are refusing to underestimate a wounded Crusaders side ahead of tonight's Super Rugby grand final rematch in Hamilton More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    It's been revealed UK supermarket giant Tesco, declined the Finance Minister's invitation for a meeting to discuss the issues in our grocery sector More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    The Chiefs are refusing to underestimate a wounded Crusaders side ahead of tonight's Super Rugby grand final rematch in Hamilton 21:57

    International:
    Israel and US attacking Iran live updates: blasts heard in Tehran 21:27

    Auckland:
    Four people have been injured - one seriously - when a van rolled in the Auckland suburb of Wiri 21:17

    Law and Order:
    The Armed Offenders Squad has been working in Auckland's Papakura today, after a man was shot this morning 18:57

    Rugby:
    The Blues are pointing to territory and preventing set piece penalties as keys to victory against the Brumbies tonight in Canberra 18:37

    International:
    Crown prince Reza Pahlavi on US military intervention in Iran and how a post Islamic Republic 'transition' would work 18:17

    Politics:
    Bill Clinton tells congressional committee he had 'no idea' about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes 18:07

    Soccer:
    Auckland FC attacking weapon Jesse Randall is stoked with how the club is tracking heading towards the final stretch of the A-League's regular season 18:07

    Boxing:
    Kiwi Carlos Ulberg will fight for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 327 in Miami on April 12 17:27

    Rugby:
    Crusaders utility back Leicester Fainga'anuku's comfortable being deployed in a third different role in as many weeks on his Super Rugby Pacific return 16:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd