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LOS ANGELES - Comedian Michael Richards, famed for playing the quirky character Kramer on the hit show Seinfeld, apologised on national television today for spewing a torrent of racial slurs at hecklers during a stand-up act in Hollywood.
The incident, captured in digital-camera video footage obtained by the celebrity website TMZ.com and circulated over the internet today, took place during Richards' live performance on Friday night at the Laugh Factory comedy club.
Eyewitnesses interviewed by TMZ and cable news network CNN said Richards' act took an ugly turn when some members of the audience who were black were heckling him.
In the video, the performer appears to lose his cool, shouts "Shut up!" and makes a racially offensive statement.
As nervous laughter gives way to groans and boos from the audience, Richards lets loose a barrage of racial slurs and epithets and points to someone in the crowd.
Richards continues to rant as people in the audience are heard shouting back at him, "That was uncalled for," and the comic yells: "Well, you interrupted me pal, that's what happens when you interrupt the white man."
After several minutes, during which many members of the audience can be seen leaving their seats, Richards abruptly drops the microphone and steps down from the stage.
Richards' outburst drew expressions of bewilderment from a number of fellow performers including his former TV co-star, Jerry Seinfeld, on whose eponymous NBC hit sitcom Richards gained fame playing wacky sidekick Kramer.
Today, a sombre Richards, 57, issued a public apology during an appearance by satellite from Los Angeles on the Late Show with David Letterman, insisting: "I am not a racist. That is what is so insane about this."
"I lost my temper on stage," Richards said. "I was at the comedy club trying to do my act and I got heckled and I took it badly and went into a rage. For me to be at a comedy club and flip out and say this crap, you know, I am deeply, deeply sorry."
Richards' appearance came during an in-studio guest spot on Letterman's show by Seinfeld, who told Letterman he had spoken to Richards earlier in the day and asked him to come on the show to "explain what happened."
"He deserves a chance to apologise, and that's all he wanted, and I thank you for having him on," Seinfeld said to applause after Richards spoke.
Seinfeld earlier released a statement calling Richards' tirade "extremely offensive."
"I am sick over this," Seinfeld said. "I'm sure Michael is also sick over this horrible, horrible mistake. ... I feel terrible for all the people who have been hurt."
Richards' idiosyncratic Kramer persona was a favourite on Seinfeld during its nine-year run on NBC until May 1998, but his first stab at a sitcom of his own in 2000 was short-lived.
The Michael Richards Show, in which he starred as bumbling private detective Vic Nardozza, was cancelled due to low ratings after several episodes. The series was widely panned by critics.
- REUTERS
