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 J Prestage

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If you say it own it I get sick and tired of everyone backpeddling to appease a specific people that represent a small minority of people. If you dont want to own it dont say it. I personally do not have a problem with homosexuals but Im not gonna walk on egg shells around them to not offend they certainly dont around my christian beliefs.

By Tom

It's about time people stop appologizing for their opinions just to appease the politically correct hacks. Hey folks, it's OK to have a differing opinion, and it's OK to express it.

Wednesday 22 June

By MAGNET

TO ALICE WHERE DID U GET THAT WORD FROM NIGGRUH? OH I KNOW YOU ARE BLACK AND DONT WANT ANYONE TO KNOW IT. OR DID A NIGGHUH WORK FOR YOUR MOMMA OR POPPA, I WONT TELL IF YOU DONT OH BOY I THOUGHY WORDS LIKE THAT VANISHED WHEN YOU ALL TOOK OUR LAND BLACK MAIDS AND SO ON I KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS ALICE, YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AGO YOU CAUGHT YOUR HUSBAND SLEEPING WITH THE HELP AND THEN THERE WAS A MIXED BRED CHILD WHOM YOU PROBALY KILLED AND THE NIGGRUH MOTHER THAT MADE YOU ANGRY BUT WHAT YOU DID NOT KNOW IS THAT AFTER YOU MURDERED THE NIGGRUH MOTHER AND CHILD YOUR HUSBAND HAD MORE STACHED AWAY IN HIS BARN. BUT AS I SAID ALICE YOUR SECRET IS SAFE WITH ME. I WILL NOT TELL ANY WHITE OR NIGGRUH ABOUT YOUR SECRET OR SECRETSSSSSSSSS. SHHHHHHHH

Saturday 25 June

By cj

WE SHOULD NEVER LOOK DOWN ON SOMEONE UNLESS WE ARE PICKING THEM UP.....GOT GOD..............IF NOT GET HIM IT'S NEVER TO LATE MY PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL....

By DAN

GUESS WHAT NOT EVERYBODY THINKS IT IS OKAY TO BE GAY !
BEING GAY IS A SEXUAL PREFERENCE.
WHY DOES ANYONE WHO DOES NOT APPROVE OF BEING GAY CALLED A RACIST ?
BEING A RACIST SHOULD BE ABOUT A PERSONS COLOR OF SKIN OR ETHNIC BACKGROUND.
YOU SEE AMERICA MANY PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES BELIEVE IN A MAN AND A WOMAN FOR MARRIAGE. KIDS SHOULLD HAVE A MOTHER AND A FATHER. KIDS SHOULD NOT HAVE TWO DADDIES OR TWO MOMMIES.

By Lori

Good for you Tracy. Now lets all move on :--)

By azbo61

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Nothing but a big publicity act....he would not have apologized or said a word had not people called him on it

DID I MISS SOMETHING? WHO HAS TWO MOMMIES AND TWO DADDIES I THINK U ARE TALKING ABOUT HALF THE WORLD THE THING IS A LOT OF THEM ARE STILL HOW WE SAY HIDING.

By amused

The prime example of "Man Child"

By Marie

ALICE..Judging from your choice of words, you're no better than he was when he was ranting. Calm down.

By Julie

TRACY: DON'T PANIC. Gay's make up less than 10% of the country. We all know you meant every word but this is not going to affect your career at all. Poll's clearly show that most American's are still against Gay marriage so RELAX! Just don't do it again.

By jim

Why is every body scared to tell the truth if he hates GAY people so what are u going to change what he feels

By Kent

Regardless on whether someone thinks homosexuality is wrong or not, it was wrong for him to say that he would stab his son if he was gay and not at all funny and it was right for him to apologize for his remarks, period.

By tjofaustin

Black people hate gayrods.

Friday 24 June

By sixie

Seriously, he isn't sorry. He's sorry it got press. This is the same man I have seen with my own two eyes stiff waiters at a local place to eat where people are earning minimum wage or little more.

Don't feel sorry for him, he couldn't care less.

By sassy

being gay is Wrong!!!!and discusting!they should all be ashamed of themselves and locked up for there crims..and there such babys always crying they dont want to be treated diffrent yet they act diffrent then the rest of us normal people!

By Barry

He was not funny before and he is not funny now.

Thursday 23 June

By Marilyn Ellis

First of all I agree with Tracy to a cerain extent there should not be law's for Gay people because it should not be allowed for 2 men are 2 women to kiss are hold hand's in piblic children see this the people in the world has gone mad gay and lesbian act's is a sin in the eye's of God that' is a mental illness and it's not okay for people to condone this it's very sad God created man for woman and woman for man not man for man are woman for woman wake up people are you all will wined up in the pits of hell.

By eddd

too bad mel gibson wasn't forgiven that quick..then again hes white so i guess that means he is still a bad guy....racism is very much alive and well!!!!!!!

By Dweezy

Get a real cause! Better yet a real life."

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