At a stand-up performance in Phoenix on Saturday, comedian Katt Williams got heckled by an audience member of Mexican descent and responded by straying from his routine to launch into a barrage of insults all focused on national origin and ethnicity. Many are calling the incident his "Michael Richards moment," in a nod to the Seinfeld star's hateful n-word-ridden rant at his own heckler in 2006.
Williams' initial "If I'm speaking out of line, let me know" comment and his attempt to backtrack with, "It's not even racial," make clear that the comedian himself knew he'd strayed way over to the nonfunny side of offensive.
A rough transcription of the remarks, courtesy of the Huffington Post:
Since y'all like it over here a lot. and I'm saying, if I'm speaking out of line, let me know. But I'm saying it appears to me, y'all like it over here a lot. And let me tell you why I'm making that assumption, because I have no right to make that assumption. But understand this, this what gives me the right, and don't you get it twisted … If y'all had California and you loved it, then you shouldn't have given that mothaf*cka up. You should have fought for California, goddamnit, since you love it …
Because you think I'm dissing Mexico and I'm defending America. Are you Mexican? Do you know where Mexico is? No this ain't Mexico, it used to be Mexico, motherf*cker, and now it's Phoenix, goddammit. USA! USA!
F*ck you back, n*gga. i bet you dont even go to mexico, motha f*cka… no n*gga, do you know where you at? USA! USA! I dont give a f*ck. no n*gga, this is my hood… [security comes] F*ck him! Mothaf*ckas think they can live in this country and pledge allegience to another country… do you remember when white people used to say go back to Africa? And we'd have to tell them we dont want to? So if you love Mexico, bitch, get the f*ck over there! [breaks into the National Anthem]..
We were slaves bitch, you just all work like that at the landscapers … It's not even racial — you're a bitch! I don't give a f*ck what race that is, that's a p*ssy."
Read more at the Huffington Post.
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