Update: Michael Richards apologized in a November 20 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman.  "I'm very, very sorry to those people in the audience ... that took the brunt of that anger and hate and rage and how it came through, and I'm concerned about more hate and more rage and more anger coming through ..." he said, adding, "I'm deeply, deeply sorry."

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New York, NY, November 20, 2006 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today said it was disturbed at reports that comedian and actor Michael Richards yelled a racial slur and made other racially insensitive remarks during a stand-up routine at a comedy club in Los Angeles.

ADL issued the following statement:

We were deeply disturbed at reports that Michael Richards repeatedly shouted a racial slur and made other insensitive remarks apparently aimed at African-American members of his audience.

Richards' repeated use of the 'n-word' and apparent reference to lynching is offensive in any context. There is no excuse for such insensitive and bigoted language. It has no place in a comedy club and no place in America, and must be clearly repudiated.

We hope Mr. Richards will now take a public stand against appeals to racism and bigotry and publicly apologize for his poor judgment in shouting them from the stage.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.