|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
< BACK TO Fresh Intelligence Some Free Advice for Michael Richards KRAMER VS. KRAMER Richards In other words, say you're Michael Richards. What do you do now? 1. Grovel. "The first thing he needs to do is apologize early and often," says Michael W. Robinson, vice president of Levick Strategic Communications, a Washington, D.C., PR firm that specializes in crisis management. Richards made a passable start last night, appearing via satellite on The Late Show with David Letterman to say he's "busted up" about the outburst. "I'm deeply, deeply sorry," he added. While Richards' form left something to be desired—he twice used the outdated term "Afro-American," drawing titters from the audience—his quick response impressed Robinson, who cites a Mark Twain maxim: "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." 2. Explain yourself—within limits. "He's really gotta put some meat on those bones," says Robinson. "He needs to help people understand how a figure as famous as he is could've gone off the rails like this. A crisis abhors a vacuum, and if he doesn't act fast, that vacuum will fill with rumor and innuendo instead of with fact and objectivity." Richards supplied the beginnings of an explanation on The Late Show, suggesting the tirade was an unfortunate byproduct of his creative process. "I'm a performer," he said. "I push the envelope, I work in a very uncontrolled manner onstage." While that may be true, Robinson doubts blaming his comedic process will satisfy Richards' fans. "I don't think it will carry the day," he says. "That's not in the psychology of those who watch Seinfeld reruns. They're not going to see the Lenny Bruce or Andy Kaufman aspect of it." 3. Call for backup. After tendering his own apology, the most important thing Richards can do in the short term is get friends and colleagues—African-American ones, if possible—to vouch for him, just as Mel Gibson got prominent Hollywood Jews to defend him after his anti-Semitic rant in July. "He needs them to say, 'I don't know what happened, but that's not the Michael Richards that I know,'" says Robinson. Jerry Seinfeld's support will go some distance toward redeeming Richards, while also insulating Seinfeld himself from any collateral damage, says Robinson. (Richards' Late Show appearance was reportedly brokered by Seinfeld, who was already a scheduled guest.) Robinson is particularly admiring of the well-crafted statement Seinfeld put out yesterday. "That's brilliantly written if you're one of the Seinfeld PR people," he says. "You're expressing your personal unhappiness. You're not passing judgment on him. It's very well done." 4. Twelve-Step it. There's been much speculation that Richards might yet follow Gibson's lead and blame his meltdown on booze. If so, Robinson says a stint in rehab might not be a bad idea. "If somebody really does have a health issue, then yes, that's a good option. But it can't be perceived as 'Well, I'll just check the box and in 21 days it'll all be fine.' It has to be perceived as genuine." 
So what. I’ve lived in the “racist” South and the “enlightened” North East. The reality is that everyone is to some degree racist. If you prefer someone with a tan without a tan with blonde hair with black hair or whatever, the fact that certain races have certain characteristics dictates that your choice on what you find attractive requires that you be a racists to some degree. That is a simple fact so let’s get that out of the way now. That said I prefer honest expression of peoples views and beliefs. In the South you know where people stand because of how they talk. In the North East the PC police have done such a good job that the most racist bigoted people remain hidden under the PC façade. Would you rather know your neighbors hates you for who you are or be greeted each day with a fake smile and mechanical wave? You could live life either way, but the reality is you would be in a much better position knowing how your neighbor felt than simply having the false sense of his/her good character. Imagine you find yourself needing help, you might think you can get help from the fake neighbor only to be blown out of the water in that critical time of need. With the openly bigoted neighbor you know where you stand you don’t expect anything from him/her and you’re in a better position. Does it bother me when an actor like Michael Richards rants about blacks or Mel Gibson rants about Jews? Not as much as it bothers me to know that most of Hollywood is prejudiced against certain groups but too cowardly to admit it. Each time someone rants about one group or another, the public goes “oooohh”, and the public relations wizards jump in to sanitize the comments. Let these people be who they are. I don’t care if the movie or TV show I’m watching is made by or has actors that are members of the Klan, the black panthers or any other group. I watch those shows for what is on the screen not what is in the actor or director’s head and heart. Moments like these are disturbing, not because the actor has shown himself to be one step removed from a white sheet, but because they show a complete disconnect with what should matter to the American public. We shouldn’t care what someone whom we will very likely never meet says or does when it does not affect us. Care about your neighbors and those that are actually going to come into contact with your family. Posted by: thomas998 on November 21, 2006 12:28 PM I think Michael Richards did what we all want to do at some time. He obviously had had enough of their crap and did what any "human" would have done. I retaliated in the most effective manner short of physical. He did it verbally. He used a term that he know would offend them. He should not be labeled "a racist". He should be labeled as someone who lost his temper. That is what humans do. He is trying to make a living and someone that wanted to make themself fell better, thought they would make him feel bad about what he was doing, which is trying to make a living at what he does best. If they didn't like it, they should have quietly left. Michael, if you read this, know that everyone does not fault you for this. Sure you could have done it differently, but I don't think it is a big deal. You met WORDS with WORDS. OMG is that a freakin crime. To the media GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON! Have you ever heard of freedom of speach? He only gave them what they gave out. Posted by: Cozmo35 on November 21, 2006 6:14 PM I think Michael Richards did what we all want to do at some time. He obviously had had enough of their crap and did what any "human" would have done. He retaliated in the most effective manner short of physical. He did it verbally. He used a term that he knew would offend them. He should not be labeled "a racist". He should be labeled as someone who lost his temper. That is what humans do. He is trying to make a living and someone that wanted to make themself feel better, thought they would make him feel bad about what he was doing, which is trying to make a living at what he does best. If they didn't like it, they should have quietly left. Michael, if you read this, know that everyone does not fault you for this. Sure you could have done it differently, but I don't think it is a big deal. You met WORDS with WORDS. OMG is that a freakin crime. To the media, GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON! Have you ever heard of freedom of speach? He only gave them what they gave out. Posted by: Cozmo35 on November 21, 2006 6:16 PM Yeah, hell with that! This is exactly the type of thing that helps breed hate and apathy - I'm not talking about the tirade wither. Watch the TV - the brother held down by the white man. Poor little black man got called some racial names. Guess when I walk past black folk with my wife, the comments they make are 'not uncalled for'? Yeah, that's right. We whiteys deserve it all. OK white people, you all don't deserve to be alive. We are ALL racist. If you don't believe that, you are lying to yourself. But being racist doesn't mean that you HATE other, it just means that you belong to one or another. Get over it. He was angry. He lashed out. He doesn't hate black people, he just wanted to hurt someone who hurt him. Meanwhile, the 'victim' is getting his 15 minutes... he should be happy. Posted by: michaelrichardsrocks on November 21, 2006 7:21 PM Advertisement Yeah, hell with that! This is exactly the type of thing that helps breed hate and apathy - I'm not talking about the tirade wither. Watch the TV - the brother held down by the white man. Poor little black man got called some racial names. Guess when I walk past black folk with my wife, the comments they make are 'not uncalled for'? Yeah, that's right. We whiteys deserve it all. OK white people, you all don't deserve to be alive. We are ALL racist. If you don't believe that, you are lying to yourself. But being racist doesn't mean that you HATE other, it just means that you belong to one or another. Get over it. He was angry. He lashed out. He doesn't hate black people, he just wanted to hurt someone who hurt him. Meanwhile, the 'victim' is getting his 15 minutes... he should be happy. Posted by: michaelrichardsrocks on November 21, 2006 8:37 PM It is not Richards alone that I find disturbing, but the reaction in the public (as evidenced in some of the sentiment here). I hpe we not only point the finger at Richards, but at ourselves. There's a great article on the reality this evidences (alongside with the Gibson case) at http://www.aarondarc.com/poppsychology/content/view/177/32/ Posted by: Zephyr76 on November 21, 2006 10:43 PM humm.. Not a day goes by that we don't hear "Afro-Americans" cry'in, screaming - "RACIST"! ...tension, anxiety, sudden-outbursts, irritablity, exacerbation-of-existing-conditions, false-sense-of-surroundings, unable-to-cope... Similar attributes of Menopause. ... and *IF* a coupla whites we're heckling a black comedian? YEAH, You Know It! Posted by: get_over_it on November 22, 2006 11:34 AM |
    
 |
|
 |
|
 | ||||
Back
O'Reilly Claims Victory in Battle Against Boss