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Seeks Counseling
Michael Richards, the Jewish actor who plays the Kramer
character on “Seinfeld,” began psychiatric counseling to control
his anger just days after unleashing a racist tirade calling some
young blacks, niggers.
Some ask if it's true repentance, or just damage control.
University of Southern California sociologist Julie Albright said
“it’s a form of repentance” for celebrities to publicly admit to
be racists.
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Fellow Jew Doubts Sincerity
“Of course it’s all bull,” said Boyarsky, an adjunct professor at
the Annenberg School for Communication and a former Los Angeles
Times city editor. Serious rehabilitation requires more than just
saying a few public “I’m sorrys” and dropping out of view for a week
or two of counseling, he said.
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Richards Is just Harmless
Psychologist Jerry Deffenbacher of Colorado State
University said people like Michael Richards fall into what he calls
the “angry, snarly, grouchy, pain-in-the-butt” category.
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Judge Not Needed
Richards, who is white, might have violated common decency when
he unloaded on black patrons who told him he wasn’t funny, but he
didn’t break any laws. As a result, Richards himself — not a judge —
structured his rehab program.
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Jesse Jackson Forgave Richards
Besides counseling, he appeared on the Rev. Jesse
Jackson’s nationally syndicated radio program, “Keep Hope Alive,” as
part of a series of apologies. He also offered to meet with the club
patrons he offended.
As to whether counseling can really calm someone like Richards,
Deffenbacher said anger management experts have seen impressive
short-term results after only a few outpatient visits.
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