Tracy Morgan Returns to Nashville: 'I Didn't Mean It'

By PopEater Staff Posted Jun 21st 2011 02:55PM

Tracy Morgan returned to Nashville on Tuesday to deliver an apology to gay advocacy groups and fans offended by his homophobic comments made at a stand-up routine earlier this month. Sitting at a GLAAD-sponsored panel table with Kevin Rogers, the man who sparked the controversy with a Facebook post, the '30 Rock' star tried to make amends for among other things, saying that he would "stab" his son if he were gay.

"I want to apologize to Kevin and people that were at the show for bummin' em out," Morgan began at the event held by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. "I want to apologize to my friends and my family and my fans and everyone in every community that were offended with this. I didn't know. I didn't mean it."

As he has done in other apologies since coming under fire, Morgan told the press conference that he believes he is not a hateful person.

"I don't have a hateful bone in my body," he said. "I don't believe that anyone should be bullied or just made to feel bad about who they are. I totally feel that, in my heart, I really don't care who you love, same-sex or not, as long as you have the ability to love."

Since first apologizing on June 10, Morgan has met with homeless lesbian and gay youth in New York City. He agreed to the Nashville meeting at the request of GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. As to the sincerity of Morgan's commitment to gay rights, PopEater spoke to his close friend Russell Simmons, who believes the actor will walk the walk.

"He said to me, 'I ain't got s--t to do and I want a cause.' He says he wants to work for GLAAD and that he has found a calling and a cause. I believe he is sincere," Simmons said. "People have to learn and be educated and Tracy is a guy who comes from a community that is homophobic which is why he can be so helpful."

Rogers spoke before Morgan at the event and seemed convinced that Morgan had just made a "huge mistake" at the June 3 show.

"I was mainly just saddened by the words had to say that night because I had always assumed that Tracy was an ally to the LGBT community," Rogers told the gathered press. "So in the weeks since then, and seeing what actions that Tracy has taken upon himself to go out into our community and try and make a difference. I had the opportunity to speak with Tracy prior to coming here and he shared his genuine concern with his words and has promised me that his actions going forward are going to be positive of my community."

He added, "I greatly appreciate what he said and that he came back to try to right what I believe was just a huge mistake."

Tags: Kevin Rogers, Tracy Morgan

Comments

(111)

Tuesday 21 June

By Big-K

Vote down Vote up Report this

I guess he now have to go on a world tour of apologizing cause the GLBT people are so sensitive and wear their feelings on their shoulders, they are lurking in the darkness like prey animals waiting to pounce on or yell homophobia as soon as they dream or hear anything from anybody who don't love their life style.Its time to get over this BS, you are who you are, not every one give s*** or like that life style no matter how loud they yell or protest you are not going to convert them. Enough already!!

By Jim

Who cares. Im so sick of 1. special interest groups always claiming they are offended by everything, yet want to be treated like everyone else, yet they can say and do whatever they want. and 2. People always apologizing for what they said

By red

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I agree. It has to stop. This is America and PCism should not be the American way of life. Everyone has to stop living to be offended by everything and everyone. Remember what your parents or your grandparents taught you all. Sticks and stones people!

Wednesday 22 June

By Dave

Maybe when gay people are finally treated like other people instead of cheap punchlines to bad jokes, they'll stop taking offense at being, well, cheap punchlines to bad jokes. Just a thought ...

By Sue

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

If you can't take a joke then get out of the gay tribe

By David

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Can we get a little real here in terms of people being too sensitive? Tracy's gay jokes were not the issue, in fact "Kevin" had expressed he can laugh at himself and a good gay joke - but it was the tone in which the tirade was issued, including the not funny at all "I would stab my son to death if he told me he was gay..." It's all about context and emotion and intent. Everyone at that performance reported there was no framework of humor, it was just a sickening unfunny rant.

I have a friend who has no legs. I constantly call him "short guy", and we even have dark humor about other disabled people we have run into while having lunch or hanging out. But it sure would be different if I went on a fiery rant about God's mistakes and cripples and being deformed and physical appearance making me want to puke. Get the difference?

By plat250

I thought what he said was pretty brutal. If that was supposed to be funny he needs to work on his material. Being a gay man myself, i accept his apology now can he shut the hell up already!!

By KITZER

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

MY, ISN'T THAT BIG OF YOU!!!! WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO TO TIMES SQUARE, DROP YOUR PANTS AND DEMAND EVERYONE KISS YOUR A**! IF YOU THINK I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY, YOU'LL HAVE TO KISS MINE FIRST!!

By Stickmewithafork

Wow...Way to cave. It is amazing that you cannot say anything negative about anyone without having to break out the podium and appologize. Unless it is a straight, white, Christian. You can say anything about them and expect no recourse. He obviously said what he felt. Maybe next he should appologize to the athiests and agnostics for mentioning God. Why don't we just throw the first amendment out.

By eric

So do all the people that laughed at the joke have to apologize? This is dumb.

By vin

wow tracy you should have just got down on your knees bro and s***ed a guy off to show your sorry . what a sell out. lol

By VIN

I was hurt by your statement. i think i need you to say your sorry for hurting my feelings.

I guess if your a 'sexually normal' human being, YOU CAN'T SAY WHAT YOU THINK OR FEEL!!

By Edgar LaMance

Most fathers share the same sentiments("if my son were queer, I'd kill him). It's called hyperbole for humorous effect. Few (straight) fathers would be happy with a queer son, or daughter, because gays have a harder way to go. Fathers want their children to be happy. Most fathers would eventually accept their queer offspring. (emphasis on MOST) Despite the current fad that promises the opposite; the chance for happiness is severely reduced for homosexuals.
What I'm sick and tired of hearing is "mother-in-law jokes. LOL. Political correctness is an iron trap that will eventually render life unbearable because it will kill humor.

By MBA Health

He is sorry that everyone got so upset and his career could be in the toilet. He meant what he said...you can't be homophobic one minute and "see the light" the next. He should own up to being a homophobe and a bigot and stop being a liar.

By ray

he may be hugging the homo but deep down inside he wants to beat the crap out of him lol

By the_fool

Oh my goodness they are hugging. Is this going to turn Tracy gay now?! Ha ha ha I'm just kidding.

By JAMES C. GITSAS (JIMMY G)

Did he mean it then - or does he mean it now?

By janet

i have gay acquaintences....great people... but 2 guys doing sodomy ??? not so good....black people hate us because we are white- end of story.the big word is HATE ! WHY , OH WHY.......

By rdmorris1402

Sincerity? oh yeah, I can hears it in his voice! Dat's cool, my man. I think he and kevin should kiss each other on the lips and then have a anal gathering of love! or is that annual?

Page 3 of 6