Monkey Number 1 Says

SAY IT AIN'T SO COSMO:

After all of the headlines Mel Gibson received for his controversial remarks, Michael Richards, better known as Kramer from the popular sitcom Seinfeld, has landed himself in an equally bad situation when his comedy routine turned into a string of racial obscenities aimed at hecklers in the audience.

Michael Richards, 57, came to fame for his role as Jerry Seinfeld's wacky neighbor on NBC's former hit series, Seinfeld. Since then, Richards has been performing his stand-up routine, usually to some good laughs, though, at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood on Friday night, his routine took a turn for the racist. A video posted on TMZ.com shows the comedian's racist tirade after two black audience members heckled Richards.

After hearing the remarks from the men in the audience that he wasn't funny, the Associated Press reports that Richards retorted with "Shut up! Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f------ fork up your a--." After that outburst, Michael Richards began pacing the stage, sending volleys of racial taunts at the men. Richards screamed at the men, "You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now mother------. Throw his a-- out. He's a n-----!" After that profane reply, Richards began repeating the racial epithet over and over again.

While Michael Richards' outbursts seemed to catch many by surprise, as people were heard to be laughing at first, the repeated use of the "N-word" led many in the audience to say "Oh my God." The original two hecklers were not the only ones to take potshots at the former Seinfeld actor, as the AP quoted an audience member as replying "It's not funny. That's why you're a reject, never had no shows, never had no movies. `Seinfeld,' that's it," as the audience noted that Richards has had very few roles other than Kramer.

As Michael Richards continued his expletive and racist diatribe, the video shows many members of the audience leaving the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood, not impressed by Richards' "comedy". The Washington Post reports that Richards performed the following evening at the Laugh Factory without incident. Calls to Richards' reps were not returned, though Richards' former co-star, Jerry Seinfeld, weighed in on the situation. Seinfeld was quoted by the Associated Press as admitting he was "sick over this," adding, "I'm sure Michael is also sick over this horrible, horrible mistake. It is so extremely offensive. I feel terrible for all the people who have been hurt."

I tried to link up TMZ.com, but that site is getting slammed at the moment.