Richards turns to Jackson, Sharpton for help
But anti-semitic remarks reported
November 22, 2006
By JOHN SMYNTEK
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Two developments in the Michael Richards affair: TMZ.com reports Richards is reaching out to civil rights leaders, asking for forgiveness for his racist tirade at an L.A. comedy club.
However, a new story of intemperate behavior also emerged.
Richards; just hired publicist Howard Rubenstein, said Richards rang up the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton, apologizing for his racial rant.
Rubenstein says Richards has made other phone calls as well, expressing regret for his comments. Rubenstein says, "He's appalled at what he did and wants to start the healing process." Rubenstein adds, "Whether it be an attack on any racial group - disguised or posed as humor -he acknowledges it's horrible and wrong and he will never do that again." Rubenstein says the calls were received "positively."
No word yet on how the clergymen reacted to the calls. Sharpton, however, has stated publicly that he did not buy Richards' apology on "Letterman."
And late Wednesday, TMZ reported two Los Angeles residents Carol Oschin and J.P. Fillet, say they were at The Improv on April 22 when in the middle of Richards' skit, a man in the audience said something to the comedian, when Richards allegedly launched into an anti-Semitic rant.
According to Oschin, Richards screamed at the audience member slurs that included "You people are the cause of Jesus dying."
Oschin says the rant continued and Richards stormed off the stage. Oschin and Fillet say that, at first, they thought Richards' tirade was part of his act, but claim that it quickly became apparent it was not.
Rubenstein, confirmed the comments about Jews, but says it was part of the act. Rubenstein says Richards told him, "I'm not anti-Semitic. I was playing a role and poking fun at the rednecks."