Michael Richards (Kramer on Seinfeld) was doing a comedic stand up act in a night club (the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles) when two black men in the audience (Frank McBride and Kyle Doss) began to heckle him. Richards’ stopped his act and let out a stream of racially charged fury. Said Richards in part, “Throw his [expletive] out. He’s a [n-word]. He’s a [n-word]. He’s a [n-word]. A [n-word]! Look there’s a [n-word]. oooh! ooh!” Many in the crowd responded with their own racially laced swearing and someone screamed out, “It’s not funny. That’s why you’re a reject. Never had no shows, never had no movies. ‘Seinfeld’ — that’s it.” Richards unsuccessfully tried to regain composure and control over the audience, but moments later, he walked off the stage.

Shortly after the incident, Richards appeared on the Tonight Show with David Letterman and said, “I lost my temper on stage. I was at a comedy club trying to do my act, and I got heckled, and I took it badly, and went into a rage and said some pretty nasty things to some Afro-Americans, a lot of trash talk.”

The Reverand Al Sharpton, possibly one of the dumbest people to ever have lived, said of the incident, “I cannot accept his apology. He called me yesterday to say sorry, but it’s not my place to accept that on behalf of all blacks. I can forgive, but I’m not the victim here. What he said hurt a lot of people.”

Frank and Kyle went on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 and demanded a personal apology and possibly some money from Richards.

I’m confused here. Were Michael Richards’ comments incredibly inappropriate, outrageous and offensive? Yes, without argument. All the same, I’m uncertain why money has entered into the equation. Can someone enlighten me? And if Frank and Kyle do deserve money, just how much is owed to them? Let’s discuss.