News | Entertainment
5 Jan 2026 2:51
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
     01 Jan: If you get lost in the bush, can you really survive by drinking your own pee?
     31 Dec: Miley Cyrus pitches her songwriting skills to legendary filmmakers and Hollywood stars at events to get involved in movies
     31 Dec: Jamie Lee Curtis is glad she narrowly dodged fame as a child thanks to her late mom Janet Leigh
     31 Dec: Olivia Culpo is saving all her clothes for her daughter
     31 Dec: Billie Lourd has paid tribute to her grandmother Debbie Reynolds on the ninth anniversary of her death
     31 Dec: Toni Collette has praised Kate Winslet for bringing an "incredible sense of trust and freedom" to the set of Goodbye June
     31 Dec: Ashley Park dec lares crocheting as her personal Roman Empire
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Seattle Seahawks have locked up top seed in American football's NFC with a 13-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Cautious optimism from tech experts, in the wake of this week's ManageMyHealth cyber attack More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    State Highway 8 west of Tekapo has reopened after a serious four-car crash 22:17

    International:
    Venezuelan diaspora divided over US capturing of leader Maduro 21:57

    Law and Order:
    Police are carrying out a large search for a tramper missing near Mount Huxley in the Southern Alps 21:57

    International:
    Australia's Venezuelan diaspora gathers after US captures president Nicolás Maduro in military strike 21:27

    International:
    Australian teen loses friend, says two remain missing, after Crans-Montana bar fire 21:07

    International:
    Bangladeshi Hindus on edge as Islamic extremists target minority community 19:37

    Motoring:
    All lanes on State Highway One in South Auckland's Takanini are open again after a truck, carrying a small house collided with an overbridge 18:57

    Living & Travel:
    The Festive Season hasn't been so merry for the Breakers 18:37

    Cricket:
    The Northern Brave have beaten the Sparks - formerly the Otago Sparks - by 24 runs in their women's Super Smash T20 game in Mount Maunganui 18:07

    Rugby:
    The Seattle Seahawks have locked up top seed in American football's NFC with a 13-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers 17:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd