Wiesenthal Center/Museum Of Tolerance Officials To Michael Richards: "Apologize Immediately For Your Racist Slurs"

November 20, 2006

WIESENTHAL CENTER/MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE OFFICIALS TO MICHAEL RICHARDS: "APOLOGIZE IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR RACIST SLURS"

Officials from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance spoke out today against the racist slurs that Michael Richards made over the weekend while performing at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood.  Richards played the eccentric neighbor, Kramer, on the hit TV show, "Seinfeld."

"Michael Richards should have apologized immediately for his racial slur," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance, and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean. "There is nothing funny about racial taunts. People in the entertainment industry have a special relationship with American audiences and Richards violated that relationship. He owes African Americans and all his fans an apology," they concluded.

For more information, contact the Center's public relations department, 310-553-9036.