'Kramer' stuns audience with racist outburst, 'Seinfeld' says he's sick

(Los Angeles-AP) November 20, 2006 - The man who played "Kramer" on "Seinfeld" can now be seen in an Internet video, hurling racial epithets at black hecklers at a Los Angeles comedy club.

Michael Richards stunned the audience at the Laugh Factory on Friday night with his response to the people who heckled him during his stand-up routine.

After two black audience members shouted at Richards that he wasn't funny, Richards responded, "Shut up." He described in graphic terms what would have been done to them "50 years ago." He then paced across the stage taunting the men for interrupting his show, repeatedly using the N-word to describe them.

The video, posted on the TMZ.com Web site, shows some people walking out, with others gasping - but there's also some audible chuckling throughout the outburst.

CNN quotes Richards as telling the network he's sorry for what happened, and that he had made amends.

Richards performed the next night at the Laugh Factory without incident. His representatives haven't yet returned calls Monday.

Jerry Seinfeld says he's "sick over this." Seinfeld issued a statement saying, "I'm sure Michael is
also sick over this horrible, horrible mistake."

Seinfeld says the comments from Richards were "so extremely offensive." He adds, "I feel terrible for all the people who have been hurt."

Updated 1:47pm by Bryce Mursch