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Dick apologises for racial slur
07/12/2006 14:11 - (SA)
Los Angeles - Comedian Andy Dick has apologised for using the same racial slur that got former Seinfeld TV star Michael Richards in trouble last month.
Dick, a former co-star of the '90s sitcom NewsRadio, jumped onstage during a routine by Ian Bagg at the Improv on Saturday night and used the word in an apparent attempt to joke about Richards, the celebrity Web site TMZ.com reported Tuesday.
The 40-year-old actor-comedian issued an apology through his publicist.
"I chose to make a joke about a subject that is not funny," said the statement, which was provided to the Los Angeles Times newspaper. "In an attempt to make light of a serious subject, I have offended a lot of people, and I am sorry for my insensitivity. I wish to apologise to Ian, to the club and its patrons and to anyone who was hurt or offended by my remark."
According to TMZ, Dick had been heckling Bagg from the audience and then joined him onstage, where the two discussed Richards. When Dick exited the stage, he suddenly grabbed the microphone and shouted at the crowd, "You're all a bunch of..." - using the slur.
An Improv manager would not comment on the incident.
Richards, who played the wacky neighbour Kramer on Seinfeld, has been on a campaign of contrition since videotaped footage of his outburst at the Laugh Factory on November 17 surfaced on TMZ.
Richards has said the tirade was fuelled by anger at being heckled and not bigotry. He plans to meet with the four black patrons who were the targets of his remarks to apologise in person.
On the net:
www.andydick.com
www.tmz.com
- AP
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South Africa
