Joan Rivers on Tracy Morgan's Homophobic Rant: 'He Shouldn't Apologize'

By Christine Fenno Posted Jun 18th 2011 11:52AM

Tracy Morgan's apology tour is in full swing, as the '30 Rock' star visited gay homeless teens on Friday in New York (see photo after the jump), in a GLAAD-endorsed meeting that also included relatives of hate-crime victims.

Morgan has been under fire since June 3, when he allegedly told a Nashville comedy-club crowd of the violent reaction he might have if his son ever came out to him. Witnesses reported an act filled with homophobic tirades.

Outrageous comic Joan Rivers, however, seems outraged by just one thing: "The biggest crime of all," Rivers says, "is that Tracy Morgan isn't funny. You know what he should be apologizing for? For charging $86 to see him."

Morgan's mea culpa is overboard, Rivers believes. "He's not a Mensa comic," she tells The Daily Beast. "He's not the voice of this generation."

"He shouldn't apologize," she added. "Gay fans? What are they doing seeing him anyhow? Why aren't they watching me and Kathy Griffin? What are they doing at this show? He's lost his [one] gay fan."

GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios disagrees wholeheartedly. "Returning to Tennessee and apologizing to those he offended is an important step in showing that Tracy truly understands the weight of his words," Barrios said. "In a state that continues to put anti-gay laws on the books, it's now more important than ever that we let Tennesseans know that homophobia has no place on or off the stage."

Comedy stars have been weighing in, from Chris Rock's back-and-forth tweets on the matter, to Wanda Sykes' analysis spreading blame beyond Morgan: "Tracy is just a dumb comic. I fault the TN lawmakers. They've created an anti-gay environment." Meanwhile, stand-up comic and sitcom star Jay Mohr seemed surprised that Morgan was still employed by '30 Rock,' tweeting, "If I said what Tracy Morgan said, I would DEFINITELY be out of a job Monday morning. #Fact."

Some '30 Rock' co-workers have gone on record, including Morgan's boss Tina Fey calling his rant "violent" and "disturbing" (she added, "The Tracy Morgan I know...is not a hateful man and is generally much too sleepy and self-centered to ever hurt another person"). Co-star Cheyenne Jackson was "disgusted and appalled," according to his statement on the controversy. Meanwhile, NBC exec Robert Greenblatt said, "We do not condone hate or violence of any kind and I am pleased to see Tracy Morgan apologizing for recent homophobic remarks."

Morgan was photographed Friday at an undisclosed location, meeting with homeless gay teens to discuss their experiences.

Tags: 30 rock, joan rivers, tracy morgan

Comments

(118)

Saturday 18 June

By kmhjbh

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I am so tired of everyone acting like homosexuality is okay! If you choose to live your life that way... okay it is your life but I resent the government spending my tax dollars to teach my grandchildren that they are supposed to keep their opinions to themselves because they might hurt someone's feelings. I agree that physically harming someone because you don'tlike the way they live their life is wrong but society has gone too far. Why not teach your children to be proud of who they are regardless of the race, creed, or sexual preference of their parents or themselves. In my day we learned that words were just words and we didn't let what others believed change our vision of ourselves. Stop being such big crybabies and GET OVER IT!

By Tex

I also don't want my tax dollars spent to teach your grandchild the simple concept of the Golden Rule, which should have been taught at home, long before school age.

By Robert

Homosexuality is not okay in your opinion but kids should be taught to be proud of their sexual preference. Doesn't make much sense. "Get over it" is something you only hear from people who are not persecuted.

By Paul

How dare you claim that being a homosexual is a choice! Did you sit down one day and decide to be a heterosexual? Or am I and my gay brothers and sisters the lucky ones cause we got to pick! Do you even begin to realize how stupid you sound? If ignorance truley be bliss, you must be the happiest person on the planet!

By malikah303

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Thank you, finally a voice of reason, very refreshing!

By alan

WOW what a kind heart. TO think kid ar killing themselves and you call them cry babies. Good job at showing the love. Get ready cause chances are one of those grand kid will be gay. Cheers

By Hindsight

You're a walking contradiction.

By Chuck

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@ Paul you did get to chose but with the rest of us we are straight because that is the way we was made you know man with woman and woman with man that is the normal way. We have sex to reproduce two men are two women together can never make a child that my friend is the natural way. If you are gay thats your choice because you was not made that way.

Sunday 19 June

By lita

Wow, Chuck. Take a remedial course in English. THAT is a choice that you should make.

By Mickey

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He's not homophobic. That is a label you put on him to bully him. You bully people with your homophobic label. He simply doesn't like gay people. There is nothing wrong with that and it doesn't mean you're homophobic. You misuse the term for your own selfish gains. He simply doesn't think its normal. He doesn't want people screwing up his children by broadcasting that deviant sexual behavior is ok. Its pretty simple unless you want to confuse the issue.

By Derek

@Chuck,
looks to me like you ain't got much book learnin in skool, I sure hope you don't reproduce.

By Jane

Your antiquated thinking is what causes the hate crimes. There are homosexuals out there. YOU and all the other homophobes get over it!

By Mike0270

Well folks, here is the sad truth. Gay people are out there, live with it. They did not decide that they would be gay, it just happened. There is nothing wrong with being gay, gay men and women contribute to the world in many ways. We straight people (as we like to call ourselves) are too engrossed in religion as our way to make being gay wrong. God created all life on earth for a reason we will never understand. He created gays as he created handicapped, as well as everything else on the planet. So if God created gay's then it must be OK if you believe in your religous up-bringing. I think the thing that really makes all of the homophobes upset is the fact that gay's are finally standing up for their rights. Again, live with it.

By damien

Jay and Joan telling it how it be...Chris punking out like a sell out....Wanda going totally crazy and Stu showing he is a total buffoon

By stu

& ur a total bottom damien. BITE me!!!

By jalapeno

The only funny thing Joan Rivers will be remembered for will be the botched plastic surgery she had done to herself.
Not a big fan of T.Morgan but, at least he's funny.

By meg

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u must think charlie sheen & a hang nail is funny too jalapeno.

By fiona

we all have our own definition of what or who is funny. tracy morgan is funny to those who enjoy watching a black man take ten giant steps backward, playing the uneducated black buffoon. stymie and buckwheat were less racially offensive...and funnier too.

By boo

Morgan is EFFIN DOUCHE an NOT FUNNY at ALL

By me

i have heard jay mohr (has been) on the radio make nasty remarks bout gays & aids.

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