News | Entertainment
5 Feb 2026 11:34
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
     05 Feb: Minnie Driver believes "self-love and self-acceptance" are key to escaping the "trap" of being "frightened of losing your looks"
     05 Feb: Cher baffled the crowd at the Grammy Awards by mistakenly announcing Luther Vandross as the winner of Record of the Year
     05 Feb: The Studio cast has cancelled a planned press day this week following the death of Catherine O'Hara
     05 Feb: Jelly Roll has called himself a "dumb redneck" who feels "disconnected" from politics
     05 Feb: Savannah Guthrie's mother Nancy has been confirmed missing and foul play hasn't been ruled out
     05 Feb: Jelly Roll credited Bunnie Xo with saving his life following his success at the Grammys
     05 Feb: Billie Eilish called for collective action amid unrest in the US, after winning the Grammy for Song of the Year
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Super Rugby boss Jack Mesley expects this season's new 50-22 rules to open up defences More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Government's announced it'll invest in two horticulture developments on under-utilised Maori land in Northland and Waikato More...



     Today's News

    National:
    The penis evolved to be noticed – but the artful fig leaf has hidden it for centuries 11:17

    Business:
    The Government's announced it'll invest in two horticulture developments on under-utilised Maori land in Northland and Waikato 11:07

    Entertainment:
    Minnie Driver believes "self-love and self-acceptance" are key to escaping the "trap" of being "frightened of losing your looks" 11:01

    Law and Order:
    A man who saved a family from drowning last month is being recognised as a hero 10:57

    Motoring:
    A chance to test his pedaling prowess against some of New Zealand's best riders has been seized Hayden Wilde 10:57

    Politics:
    Can One Nation turn its polling hype into seats in parliament? History shows it will struggle 10:37

    Entertainment:
    Cher baffled the crowd at the Grammy Awards by mistakenly announcing Luther Vandross as the winner of Record of the Year 10:31

    National:
    China’s new literary star had 19 jobs before ‘writer’ – including bike courier and bakery apprentice 10:27

    Politics:
    ICE and Border Patrol in Minnesota - accused of violating 1st, 2nd, 4th and 10th amendment rights - are testing whether the Constitution can survive 10:17

    National:
    Olives have been essential to life in Italy for at least 6,000 years – far longer than we thought 10:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd