Michael Richards admits 'anger had a hold of me' as he reflects on 2006 racial rant amid memoir release

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Michael Richards thinks he has grown as a person over the years.

The ‘Seinfeld’ star is making a return to the screen after his 2006 racist rant at a comedy club.

"Anger had a hold of me. I canceled myself out. Take an exodus, get away from show business and see what the heck is going on inside me to have been so despicable that night, losing my cool and hurting people," he reflected during an appearance on the 'Today' show.

Michael Richards reflects on his life with a new memoir 

The show's host Hoda Kotb asked Richards if he had made made necessary changes after the incident, to which he replied, "I think so. Certainly getting to a place where I could forgive myself because I have to move on and be true blue about that."

The 74-year-old is back in the spotlight after almost two decades and is making a return with his new memoir ‘Entrances and Exits.’

The Hipster Doofus of ‘Seinfeld’ went on yelling racial slurs, including the N-word, at a group of hecklers at the Laugh Factory in 2006, which took his career down south. 

In his memoir, Richards talked about his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2018. "I thought I was going to go, really. I had given into that. And then I found out that if we move fast enough, we could get at the cancer," he said.

“I made it. I beat it, and that certainly motivated me to get at the book because I went through a big review of my life," shared the comedian.

When asked about what people can take from his memoir, Richards answered, "That I’m human. There’s a good, bad and an ugly coursing through all these things. Striving to be a better person.”

He continued, “Just discovering myself along the way," he continued. "It's really a pleasure. It's hard work, though, in dealing with the living and the dying, I think, when I got close to that four and a half years ago." 

Internet shares their thoughts on Michael Richards' return to screen

Netizens were divided over Richards' racial antics back in 2006.

One person commented on Facebook, "I'm glad he admitted what he did and made no excuses for it!"

"That was very disappointing when that happened! 😕 I loved Kramer!" a second user said.

Another wrote, "I get angry sometimes, but anger has never made me use the n'word."

"He can be the opening act for Roseanne's comedy tour," one suggested.

Another wrote, "I never understood why it's so hard for some ppl to just not say a slur. There's slurs for everything and I don't feel the NEED to say them. It's so weird."

"Aw he was my favorite character too," a fan joined in. 

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