LOS ANGELES — Andy Dick is apologising for using the same racial slur that got ex-Seinfeld<$> star Michael Richards in trouble last month.Dick (pictured), a former co-star of the 1990s sitcom NewsRadio, jumped on stage during a routine by Ian Bagg at L.A.'s Improv on Saturday night and used the n-word in an apparent attempt to joke about Richards.

Dick issued an apology through his publicist.

"I chose to make a joke about a subject that is not funny," said the statement, which was provided to the Los Angeles Times. "In an attempt to make light of a serious subject, I have offended a lot of people, and I am sorry for my insensitivity. I wish to apologise to Ian, to the club and its patrons and to anyone who was hurt or offended by my remark."

According to TMZ, Dick had been heckling comedian Bagg from the audience and then joined him onstage, when the two discussed Richards. When Dick exited the stage, he suddenly grabbed the microphone and shouted at the crowd, "You're all a bunch of..."' — using the n-word.

An Improv manager wouldn't comment about the incident when reached by the newspaper.

Richards, who played the wacky neighbour Kramer on Seinfeld<$>, has been on a campaign of contrition since videotaped footage of his outburst at the Laugh Factory on November 17 surfaced on TMZ.

Richards, who like Dick is white, has said the tirade was fuelled by anger at being heckled and not bigotry. He plans to meet with the four black patrons who were the targets of his remarks to apologise in person.