News | Entertainment
13 Dec 2025 15:18
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."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     13 Dec: Olivia Cooke felt "insecure" filming nude scenes in The Girlfriend
     13 Dec: Billie Lourd will never stop talking about grief
     13 Dec: Today in History, December 13: Box-office hit Sense and Sensibility hits US cinemas
     13 Dec: Kendall Jenner was "extremely lucky" to get beauty tips from her older sisters
     13 Dec: Prince Harry has quipped that being in the royal family was like living in a Downton Abbey-style drama
     13 Dec: Simon Cowell is a lot softer since becoming a father
     13 Dec: Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau have gone Instagram official with their romance
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Kiwi triathlete Hayden Wilde has only just won the first world title of his career...but he's already looking ahead to next season's T100 World Championship More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand's economy is set to expand next year, as several key indicators point to economic recovery More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    Forward Josh King feels Melbourne have the young blood to cover the loss of Eli Katoa, with his Storm teammate making good progress in his rehabilitation after brain surgery 14:56

    Entertainment:
    Olivia Cooke felt "insecure" filming nude scenes in The Girlfriend 14:50

    Entertainment:
    Billie Lourd will never stop talking about grief 14:20

    Entertainment:
    Today in History, December 13: Box-office hit Sense and Sensibility hits US cinemas 14:16

    Golf:
    The Australasian golfing duo of Dame Lydia Ko and Jason Day are five shots off the pace after the first day at the Grant Thornton Invitational in Florida 14:06

    Cricket:
    New Zealand assistant coach Luke Ronchi has saluted the toil of pace bowlers Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes across the first two cricket tests against the West Indies 14:06

    Entertainment:
    Kendall Jenner was "extremely lucky" to get beauty tips from her older sisters 13:50

    Soccer:
    Another frustrating defeat for the Wellington Phoenix women in Australia 13:46

    Business:
    New Zealand's economy is set to expand next year, as several key indicators point to economic recovery 13:26

    Entertainment:
    Prince Harry has quipped that being in the royal family was like living in a Downton Abbey-style drama 13:20


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd