Katt Williams apologizes for rant directed at Mexicans
By
the CNN Wire Staff
September 1, 2011 4:46 a.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The more than seven-minute rant was captured on video and has drawn criticism
- "My remarks were not meant to be offensive. I want to apologize," Williams says
- Williams' often raunchy style has drawn comparisons to comedy legend Richard Pryor
(CNN) -- Comedian Katt Williams has apologized for a rant he directed at Mexicans during a show in Phoenix over the weekend.
"My remarks were not meant to be offensive," Williams said. "I want to apologize if my comedy act was taken out of context."
"I sincerely appreciate my fans within the Mexican community and would never intentionally go out of my way to offend them," he added.
The rant, more than seven minutes long, was delivered during a performance Saturday and has drawn criticism from several corners.
At the show, Williams singled out a man seated near the stage and asked him if he was Mexican.
"It appears to me y'all like it over here a lot," Williams then said.
He then launched into his tirade.
"Do you remember when white people used to say 'Go back to Africa,' and we'd have to tell them we don't want to? So if you love Mexico, (expletive), get the (expletive) over there!" Williams said to the man.
As the rant turned into a back-and-forth profanity-laced argument with the man, Williams exclaimed, "We were slaves (expletive). You just work like that as landscapers."
Several times during outburst, Williams sang parts of the national anthem.
Williams began his career as a stand-up comic. His 2006 HBO special "Katt Williams: Pimp Chronicles Pt.1" raised his profile. His often raunchy style has drawn comparisons to comedy legend Richard Pryor.