Tracy Morgan Apologizes For Anti-Gay Rant During Nashville Comedy Show

Morgan Reportedly Said He'd Stab His Own Son If He Were Gay

June 10, 2011 11:25 PM

Tracy Morgan (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Entertainment)

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Former Saturday Night Live star and current ’30 Rock’ funnyman Tracy Morgan has issued an apology for delivering what some deemed an anti-gay tirade during a recent comedy show.

Morgan issued a statement Friday to The Huffington Post through his representative:

“I want to apologize to my fans and the gay & lesbian community for my choice of words at my recent stand-up act in Nashville. I’m not a hateful person and don’t condone any kind of violence against others. While I am an equal opportunity jokester, and my friends know what is in my heart, even in a comedy club this clearly went too far and was not funny in any context.”

Here’s what likely prompted the apology. During his show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on June 3, Morgan delivered more than a few gay jokes, but went on an anti-gay rant, according to a now-former Morgan fan who attended the show.

Kevin Rogers posted a review of sorts on his Facebook page following the show. Below is an excerpt of Rogers’ post (edited for profanity):

He mentioned that gay was something kids learn from the media and programming, and that bullied kids should just bust some ass and beat those other little f***ers that bully them, not whine about it.

He said if his son that was gay he better come home and talk to him like a man and not [he mimicked a gay, high-pitched voice] or he would pull out a knife and stab that little N (one word I refuse to use) to death.

He mentioned that Barack Obama needed to man up and quit being all down with this just because he has a wife and two daughters. All of this being followed by thunderous cheer and “You go Tracys.” Tracy then said he didn’t [expletive] care if he pissed off some gays.

Rogers insists he’s a longtime fan of Tracy’s and expected some gay jokes to be part of the routine. He ended his post by saying, ”I’m not angry… just very very disappointed.”

Rogers appeared on CNN Friday and said he accepted Morgan’s apology.

The Huffington Post reported that this is not the first time Morgan went on a homophobic tirade during a show. In 2009, some audience members walked out of Morgan’s bawdy performance at Carnegie Hall.

Think Morgan crossed a line or is it just comedy? Sound Off below

Tracy Morgan Apologizes For Anti Gay Rant During Nashville Comedy Show

Brandt Hardin

If Mr. Morgan has that much hatred toward the Gay & Lesbian community, maybe he should pick up a sign and join The Westboro Baptist Church. You can see their fearless leader, Fred Phelps burning in a neon pink Gay Hell on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/03/fred-phelps-and-westboro-baptist-church.html Maybe there’s room for Tracy to ride the unicorn?
D

ONCE….ON TIME…can one of these people just OWN their bigotry? If TM hates gays, its his right, and while it would be pathetic if he does, at least have the stones to claim it. Not make a bunch of vicious, angry jokes and then apologize the next day when you clearly don’t mean it. His cowardliness is about as weak as his bigotry.
Angel_keeper

lololol……..ok, I have heard it all. Because of what you do in your bedroom gets your rights…..lolol. Ok seriously, people calm down. The fact that a black people are discriminated again because of skin color compared to people doing sexual acts with the same sex are you kidding me. This country makes me want to vomit…….Tracy M. do your comedy………

MST

I agree. My philosophy is live and let live. But as a black American who has faced bigotry and discrimination, it makes me angy when gays compare their movement to the civil rights movement. When were gay men, women, and children every lynched from trees? Where were there separate fountains for gays and straights? How many gay activists have died, as compared to civil rights activists?

Gay people are always pointing out that they are wealthier and more educated than the population at large. If this is true, then how can they be so discriminated against?

Many gays can “pass” for straight. Most black folks can’t pass for white.

tishtash

Boy you haven’t a clue. Even my limited knowledge of the LGBT movement allows me to know there have been more than a few of gays persecuted, beaten up badly, and yes killed because of their sexual orientation.

I don’t believe people are EQUATING the civil rights movement with the LGBT’s, but I think they’re drawing valid parallels

L.Roy

It’s really very simple,,The only persons sexual orientation anyone needs to worry about, is their own. If anyone needs to put someone else down just to get a laugh, it’s not funny.It’s harassment.
thankthesnake

I’ve never taken much note of Mr. Morgan’s slapstick, Sambo-ish style of comedy because I never considered it to be very sophisticated or very good. I consider this article to be a clear case in point. That Mr. Morgan is moving from being simply a clown to violently brutish may be in his estimation a way of upping his game. It is unfortunate, even sad.

I wonder if he would really stab his own gay child to death as if he were a Mathew Shepard? Or condon the torture and beating of gays as in the Latin King Goonies case? Maybe Mr. Morgan is clever enough to get a laugh out of a young gay man tragically ending his life like Tyler Clementi. But Mr. Morgan is clearly not that clever.
Anthony.S

He said this at a COMEDY SHOW.

Bored_by_Idiots

There’s nothing funny about a threat to kill his own son if he’s gay.

He needs to apologize to his wife and children.

Steve

I agree. There is nothing funny about fudgies. Not one thing.
Peter

The gays got rightfully angry at this loser for his anti-gay speech at them as when the blacks got angry at Don Imus when he stated “nappy-headed hos” to those black female basketball players.

Hey tracy your words will come back to haunt you!
un tracy

why did this gorilla say that? He used the word “kill” and this should be taken seriously. Their are people who are “killed” because they are gay and this is nothing to laugh about. This man should be treated worse that the way Mel Gibson was treated because of his comment. If I was the boss at NBC I would fire tracy morgan for his horrible hate speech.

MST

And using the word “gorilla” makes you what?

It’s my experience that white gays are no less bigoted that white straights. Just because you sleep with another man doesn’t make you enlightened.

pughpah

Just a note here: a man is a straight male, just because you’re male doesn’t make you a man. There is no such thing as a gay man, you are either a man or you aren’t
or you’re either gay or you aren’t. Let’s get this straight okay. smokersodyssycom

Fudgepacker You!

Yep, and you’d probably be the first one on line to be a ‘fudgee’ for him, lol

Tell it

He use to be my neighbor till him and his wife spilt [ Talk about the things I heard come out of his house]. Wife and kids are still here in Riverdale but I’m glad he’s gone..
pughpah

I find this quite amusing because when he satirizes Catholics, they find him funny.
Now why is that do you suppose? smokersodysseycom So pray tell ya chump
why haven’t ever apologize to Christians when you’ve offended us?
nyc1965

The gay community is one the WEALTHIEST segments of American society. — Don’t buy any of this vile person’s products – and tell your sympathetic straight friends to avoid this creature’s products. Hit em in the pocket book. This is the best “Gay” weapon.

MST

Once again, if they are so downtrodden, then why are they so wealthy?

Kelly Franett

Yeah, before Tracy starts teaching his kids how to’ at like a man’, he needs to learn how to be one first. Might want to start with a name change, ‘Tracy’? come on,lol!
david d. davidson

Is Tracy still enjoying his sobriety? Because these seem like the ramblings of a drunk maniac.
nathan

he’s a COMEDIAN. Why should I start taking him seriously ?
Joseph Didonato

He is one of those black people that hangs himself every time he talks, he does not need anyone to lynch him but himself.

Kelly

Wow, that’s pretty effing racist thing to say. You’re probably don’t think your racist at all, either. And why are you so obsessed with the fact that he’s black?

Richard T.

And why is he evidently so obsessed about the Gay community? He is NOT funny. Geez, can’t you take a joke, Mizzus Kelly??

Kelly

@Ruh Roh: what does him being black have to do with anything? Unless you live under a rock you should know bigots come in all colors.
mike flynn

never a fan. until now. funny bit. free speech is a 2 way street.
kent

Never a fan and certainly won’t watch anything he has to do with in the future. Unbelievable that someone is allowed to go off on a violent rant and continue to make millions of dollars doing so…pathetic.
black need to look in the mirror

Its really disgusting to me that black people go mental when the N word is used, fought for civil rights and to be treated as equals, but are the first to use the N word and bash another group struggling to get their civil rights. sad, very sad.

Kelly

Why does the fact that he’s black need to be pointed out? And why are you condemning all blacks? This is about one guy’s bigotry, being black has nothing to do with being a bigot.

Joseph Didonato

I will tell you why Kelly because Morgan is black and if anyone should know about discrimination it should be him!!! But guess he is above all that now. He is a low life
Kelly

@Joseph Didonato: Being black doesn’t have anything to do with this. All groups have ignorants regardless of skin color, or what they or their ancestors may have been through. To bring up his race just shows how racially obsessed YOU are.

confused

it’s not a matter of acceptable or not, i find virtually ANY topic worth mining for humor, and really often enjoy it when it’s most offensive. but from what i read above, there’s no humor or jokes in there… it seems to be the kind of thing you’d hear a commentator on fox news going on about. there’s offensive humor, and then there’s just plain offensive talk, with no humor inflection. whether or not his remarks (as recounted above) were intended to have some humor bent, i cant for the life of me see where it was supposed to be
RuhRoh

But because he’s black it’s ok to disparage another group of PEOPLE, huh Tracy? You make me sick and you need to find a better way to make up to gay people. btw Tracy, at what point did you decide to be straight?

Richard T.

Yeah, let’s see the gay community try to sue the world for reparations for all of the terrible trouble that THEY have been through. This comedian is nothing but a second-rate comic, he can’t find material that is REALLY funny. Perhaps he should try makling fun of himself…