The 16-Year-Old Who Could Take It All
After facing a hailstorm of criticism stemming from anti-gay remarks made on June 3 during a comedy show at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, Tracy Morgan has decided to try to redeem himself by returning to the city.
The '30 Rock' star made his way back to Nashville on Tuesday to apologize to anyone who took offense to his homophobic tirade, claiming that he would "pull out a knife and stab" his son to death if he admitted to being gay.
"I apologize to ... the people that were at the show," he professed. "I want to apologize to my friends and my family and my fans and everyone in every community who were offended with this. ... I don't have a hateful bone in my body."
"I don't believe that anyone should be bullied or just made to feel bad about who they are... I don't care who you love, same-sex or not, as long as you have the ability to love."
Although Morgan may have thought his offensive joke would win fans over, one spectator broke the news via his Facebook account. Kevin Rogers, who titled his posting, "I No Longer 'Like' Tracy Morgan -- A Must Read," detailed the comedy routine as totally unexpected and was convinced that; "none of this rant was a joke. His entire demeanor changed during that portion of the night. He was truly filled with some hate towards us."
Rogers added that about 10-15 people walked out of the auditorium immediately following Morgan's unforeseen comments. And though he was offended, Rogers was adamant about sitting through the duration of the show. "I knew if I got up ... he won... I'm not angry ... just very very, very disappointed," he said.
Since Morgan's rant made headlines, the former 'Saturday Night Live' star has received a flurry of criticism from the masses, some suggesting that the comedian give a full explanation for his actions.
"Tracy Morgan's management needs to investigate these allegations and should they prove true, we call on him to remove these violently anti-gay remarks from his show and send a strong message that anti-gay violence is not something to joke about," GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios told The Hollywood Reporter.
Fellow comedian Chris Rock took to Morgan's defense on Twitter writing: "I don't know about you, but I don't want to live in world where Tracy Morgan can't say foul inappropriate sh*t," he said before going back on his statement.
"When I first heard the statement I thought it was offensive but it also reminded me of my father saying ill kill you if you ever bring home a white girl but after reading everything Tracy said . Wow I get it that sh*t wasn't called for and I don't support it at all. Now can I please go to the Tony Awards without getting my [butt] kicked."
In addition to Tuesday's apology, Tracy Morgan will also participate in GLAAD's upcoming "Amplify Your Voice" PSA campaign, which also includes Russell Simmons, Al Sharpton, and Rashida Jones among others.
Comments: (13)
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By: TK on 6/22/2011 1:55PM
I still don't care what he said and I have no intentions on finding out. Too many people have put their foot in their mouth, did disgraceful sh@ to their families and went on to get book deals, TV shows etc. so Tracey is a comic...end of story for me!!!! Tracey should have insulted blacks and he would be fine! National media could care less about those issues.
I'm still pissed the WHITE transgender who was beat up in McDs here in B more got more NATL press than the BLACK 16yr Phylicia Barnes found floating in a MD river!!!!!
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By: Mrs. DMS on 6/22/2011 2:24PM
A comedian apologizing for saying something stupid. Career possibly taking a nose dive, due to him making some off the cuff remarks. A comedian. Why be a comedian? Is this what comedy has come to? Eddie Murphy did this, in his Raw video, there was a huge crowd there. Richard Pryor would do this, Red Foxx, etc. They had better not watch The Comedy Central, especially when Lisa Lapenelli and the others get riled up and start going in while at those Roasts! When we lose the ability to laugh and poke fun, not to be mean and hostile, but when we can no longer laugh at ourselves, to me, this is what's wrong, what's sad. The gay/lesbian, transgendered crowd, are all so focused on forcing an agenda on the majority, until they can't laugh at themselves. I happen to be one who simply does not believe God wills it that people go against His devine purpose for us, but hey, that's MY thought, My opinion, and I don't force that upon anyone, so I don't appreciate agendas being forced on me. We have come to a point in America, where we will legislate the "fun" out of life. The comedy out of life. Again, there is a BIG difference between being racist, demeaning, and hurtful, intentionally, than some stand up comic, doing what they do. Maybe comedians should just stick to performing for only certain crowds?
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By: Mission on 6/22/2011 3:20PM
Personally I don't give a good day about this nonsense.. Comedians are comedians and whether a group of people find his comic funny or not it's not a reason for them to attempt to destroy him by pounding on him like he's committed a damn crime.. I'm so sick of Wanda Sykes and her bullies... Wanda was better off in the damn closet in my mind.
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By: Mission2 on 6/22/2011 3:24PM
Everybody is not gay. Everybody will not agree with being gay, Everybody does not have to accept the gay way of life... Everybody doesn't have to know someone else is gay... Gee Wiz, is this what America is coming too? You can't say anything about anyone in a joking way? But it ok for a certain group of people to talk about the President like he's not even a human being.. Go figure.
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By: TK on 6/22/2011 3:35PM
@Mission-AMEN! Ellen ruined a great show by feeling the need to tell Oprah, as a guest, who she sleeps with??? Elton John ruined his SNL appearance by feeling the need to kiss a man EVERY SKIT! I don't give a sh@ who's in someone's bed (well as long as they're legal, hahaha)!
My guess is Tracey's WHITE bosses made him feel GAY guilty. Every appearance Tracey has made his humor is telling jokes (or saying crazy sh@) with a straight face. This to shall pass Tracey...how many of us thought Chris Breezy would have another #1 CD (LUV MJ tribute video w/80s/90s dances) or life after Rhianna pimped the abuse angle for YEARS????
I love watching old SNL repeats and was laughing at Tracey's Byron Fellows animal trainer skits the other night.
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By: shad on 6/28/2011 8:12PM
well said...and i agree
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By: Rev Jones on 6/22/2011 3:58PM
I don't know why he's apologizing. If that's what he believes so be it. I happen to feel the same way he does. He's a comic. Rush Limbaugh says terrible things about gays all the time but gay groups get their butt holes tight when it's said by blacks and go on the attack. When they started calling blacks the N word when they didn't get their way in California on gay marriage at a rally and blamed black voters I saw them to be the hypocrites and bigots they accuse others of. Marriage is between a man and woman and I wouldn't be in their bed room or lives if they didn't try to shove their sick life style in my face.
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By: Greg on 6/22/2011 4:15PM
He wouldn't have ever considered apologizing, if one...he could have got away with his ignorant remarks, and two...if all of a sudden all his booking dates weren't suddenly canceled, because he put his foot in his own mouth! What bothers me is you'd think that black people would know better! After, all the names that we've been called! Just, goes to show you that black people never learn. Now, if someone white says something unacceptable about us, then here comes all the usual BS, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the all too usual associated discrimination nonsense. Black people "grow up"!
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By: tunia2011 on 6/23/2011 11:01AM
Who cares, don't nobody care when people of other races are mean to black people. If you want people to treat you right then stop being mean spirited to other people "period". White Comedians make the same jokes all day long and nothing is said.
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By: NubianPrince on 6/24/2011 1:10PM
....I AGREE.....Tracey should have never apologized for anything he said. The fact that gay's have ruined the military....generals and colonels have resigned because they simply have no control anymore on who serves in the military they cannot command troops with this kind of distraction. Gays have permeated all facets of society to make heterosexuals feel like we are strange for loving the opposite sex.....which is normal..people like Rosey O'Donnell who exposes young children to that lifestyle like it's the thing to do......wrong I get sick and tired of gays and lesbians calling us breeders.....like it's something wrong about procreation that's how their asses got here too! This is what happens when the Homosexual lifestyle is promoted by jewish run Hollywood they should have stayed in the damn closet!
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