Highlights
- Michael Richards’ career took a nosedive after his racist rant in 2006 and he realized stand-up comedy wasn’t the best path for him.
- He regrets his outburst and acknowledges his selfishness played a role in the incident.
- Jerry Seinfeld stood by him during the aftermath and helped keep his career alive, but Richards hasn’t been involved in any projects since 2019.
Michael Richards was a fan favorite during the entire run of Seinfeld, the famous sitcom “about nothing.” His character was empathetic and very different from his co-stars characters, who were borderline apathetic and self-involved.
However, in 2006, Michael Richards launched into a racist rant during a stand-up comedy gig at the Laugh Factory. The incident almost ended his career, and it took Jerry Seinfeld‘s support to prevent it.
Michael Richards’ Career Tanked After His Outburst
After his rant, Michael Richard’s career almost did not recover. He quickly realized his mistake and also understood that stand-up comedy was not the best way for him to pursue a career in acting.
Discussing the effect of his outburst on both his career and his way of thinking, he explained that he had learned an important lesson.
“I had to question whether or not this is my game. I’d done it before, but I always got sort of picked up off the floor and put into projects. I’d only been doing stand-up at the time that situation happened about seven or eight months and I just lost my patience that night because people were heckling me and not letting me work on my material and I lost my cool. And it is what it is! I’ve moved on,” the actor said.
He also explained that he had decided to give up stand-up comedy and return to television and movie acting, saying, “I never had a great knack for that. I was always more of a performance artist, in a sense and that could be misunderstood given what happened nine years ago. And I am sorry for all that.”
It is clear that Michael Richards regrets his rant and the consequences of his actions. However, it took an intervention from his long-time friend and Seinfeld co-star, Jerry Seinfeld for him to move forward.
Michael Richards Thanked Jerry For Standing By Him
Recalling the incident in a talk with Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Richards discussed his take on what had happened.
Hearing that Jerry approaches his work selflessly, with a view to make viewers have fun rather than to satisfy his ego, Michael explained that his selfishness had played a big part in the incident and his outburst.
“I work selfishly, not selflessly. And that’s a lesson I learned seven years ago when I blew it in the comedy club, lost my temper because somebody interrupted my act and said some things that hurt me and I lashed out in anger. I should have been working selflessly that evening. Most of the time, when I am in that zone, I am selfless,” the actor told Jerry.
Jerry agreed with him, telling him that the fact that he can look back on what happened and clarify his own motives means that he has learned his lesson and finally moved on. However, Michael felt the need to once again highlight how selfishness had been his undoing on that night.
“I busted up after that event, seven years ago. It broke me down. It was a selfish response,” he repeated, saying that, instead, he should have reacted by letting it go.
“I took it too personally, and should have just said ‘Yeah, you’re absolutely right, I’m not funny. I think I’ll go home and work on my material, and I’ll see you tomorrow night’,” he continued.
Michael also showed his appreciation for Jerry standing by him. It isn’t surprising for fans because Jerry was one of the few people who didn’t abandon Michael or distance themselves from the Seinfeld star.
He told Jerry “And thanks for sticking by me, it meant a lot to me. But inside, it still kicks me around a bit.”
Jerry was gracious about it, telling Michael he had no option but to support him. He also told him it was time to stop letting the incident kick him around.
“I’ve been carrying this bag long enough. I’m going to put it down,” Jerry said was his co-star’s best approach to the situation.
What Is Michael Richards Doing Now?
Besides supporting his friend in private, Jerry Seinfeld also cast him in Bee Movie in 2007, hoping to keep his career alive. He also invited him to be a part of his Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee show on Netflix.
Other work that Michael Richards has been involved with after the incident includes a TV show, Kirstie, and the movie Faith, Hope & Love.
Despite his attempts to rekindle his career, Michael Richards hasn’t been involved in any projects since 2019. Fans think he may have given up on trying to revive his own career and instead is trying to concentrate on his much younger wife’s acting career and their family.
If that’s his life’s passion right now, it is for the better. Michael Richards must have learned a painful lesson and can now put it behind him and move on with his life.
Source: NewsFinale
