Tracy Morgan going on a “I love the gays” tour, says he loves theoretical gay son

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And now for our continuing coverage of “Tracy Morgan: Homophobic D-bag or Just Misunderstood?” For the record, I thought Tracy’s initial comments – during a standup act in Nashville – were horrible and offensive, but I also think that we should accept his apology and listen as he tries to explain himself. And he is trying, probably because NBC and Tina Fey put him on notice. So this week will be full of Tracy doing things to help improve his image. Meh, I think we should let him. What does it hurt to let him try? First up, Tracy did an interview with Russell Simmons. Here are some highlights:

Tracy Morgan isn’t done apologizing for the violent, anti-gay jokes he made during a stand-up routine in Nashville on June 3.

In an interview with Russell Simmons for Global Grind, Morgan, 42, explains that “the reason I am successful is because I am so unfiltered. And sometimes as a result I say really stupid s***.”

During his act, Morgan joked that he would “pull out a knife and stab his son to death” if he announced he was gay — a joke that the 30 Rock star seriously regrets making.

“The truth is if I had a gay son, I would love him just as much as if he was straight,” he says. “I might have to try to love even more because I know of the difficulty that he would have in society.”

“Of all the sicknesses, there is probably none more abusive than homophobia. My heart is committed to giving everyone the same rights that I deserve for myself,” Morgan says. “I don’t care if you love the same sex as long as you have the ability to love someone. Also, you should have the right no matter who you are to protect and serve our country.”

“I am deeply sorry for the comments I made. What I am most sad about is the comments I made about kids and bullying,” he continues. “I would never want any young person to think that I wasn’t on their side.”

In hindsight, Morgan says the experience has taught him a valuable lesson about the power of comedy. “When all of this set in, I realized how hurtful my words were. Not asking anyone to feel sorry for me or pity me, but I definitely don’t want or need people to defend me. In my heart, I know that the words I used are indefensible,” he says. “I appreciate the love from my friends and fans, but I was wrong. Period. Now, I just gotta think of some funny s***, not some shit that gets me knocked upside my head.”

[From Us Weekly]

I like this lip service/apology, mostly because of this: “When all of this set in, I realized how hurtful my words were. Not asking anyone to feel sorry for me or pity me, but I definitely don’t want or need people to defend me. In my heart, I know that the words I used are indefensible. That’s something that people like Chris Brown and Mel Gibson have never been able to choke out, you know? It’s not just “I was wrong” – it’s “I’m so wrong, I’m not a victim, I have literally no defense.” In the Age of Victimhood, where every d-bag who does something bad tries to play it like he’s the victim of something, I’m just saying that Tracy’s attitude is refreshing.

If that interview isn’t enough (and it’s not), Tracy is also going to go on something resembling a “I Love The Gays” tour. Later this week, Tracy will be meeting “gay youth” who have been pushed out of their families because of their sexuality. Tracy will also be going back to Tennessee for an event with GLAAD protesting the passage of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill which “outlaws the discussion of homosexuality before the ninth grade in public schools.” No joke. Oh, and he’s filming a PSA! AND there’s another interview, this time with E!:

“I know how bad bullying can hurt,” Morgan tells me exclusively. “I was bullied when I was a kid. I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it. I never want to use my comedy to hurt anyone. My family knew what it was like to feel different. My brother was disabled and I lost my father to AIDS in 1987. My dad wasn’t gay, but I also learned about homophobia then because of how people treated people who were sick with that,” he continued. “Parents should support and love their kids no matter what. Gay people deserve the same right to be happy in this country as everyone else. Our laws should support that.”

[From E! News]

All of this maneuvering is so well-done, I have to think that Tina Fey has organized it. I feel her presence here. But seriously, I welcome “Tracy Morgan: Friend, Advocate and Supporter of the Gays.” It could totally be worse, you know?

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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26 Responses to “Tracy Morgan going on a “I love the gays” tour, says he loves theoretical gay son”

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  1. lucy2 says:

    That actually sounds like a genuine apology. I hate the “sorry if you were offended” apologies, and am glad to see him not doing that.

  2. werty says:

    eh, he`s first apology was more “im sorry for my words” and not for the meaning of his comments. But i think his comments are coming from a very ignorant man who clearly doesnt know what hes talking about.
    But im not watching 30 Rock anymore (unless he`s fired, afterall he represent 30 r and if people dont like him he wont have a job).

    But if he actually gets educaded in LGBT problems and stop apologizing to everyone and just write a very nice apology that proves he has realized the difficulties which gays go thruogh i`ll watch.
    End of rant

  3. Quest says:

    Sorry, it is already out there and was heard by millions around the world.

  4. tapioca says:

    Well, I’m totally convinced he doesn’t have a homophobic bone in his body, and that that apology was in no way written for him by the 30 Rock team so they wouldn’t have to go through all the rigmarole of firing him and having to rijig the show. And whilst I’m here, does anybody want to see the lovely bridge I was sold today?

  5. gee says:

    I don’t think he’s a homophobe, I think he’s an idiot. And good for him and the team behind him who is setting this up and making him take responsibility for being so freaking dumb.

    I think this is a different issue, not homophobia. People need to stop thinking its ok to “joke” about such things. Mistreatment of children and adults based on sexual orientation is no worse that racism. Could you imagine if someone said ‘I’d kill a black person’ instead of a gay person? That is the problem. He says it so it becomes ok, and it is not ok.

  6. Dorothy#1 says:

    I am glad he is doing this because I really do love him!

  7. Marianne says:

    I don’t buy into the apologies. He’s apparently been doing the same offensive act for years(which is not only homophobic but sexist as well). To me it comes across as, he got caught with his pants down, and now he’s “apologizing” just so that we continue to watch his TV show, his movies and his comedy shows.

  8. Crash2GO2 says:

    I’m not buying what he’s trying to sell.

  9. bored says:

    Yeah, thanks for the financially driven apology. Go away now.

  10. Josh says:

    I don’t believe his sincerity one bit…

    He’s been saying hateful stuff about gays for MANY YEARS now, but no one has called him out on it. Now all of the sudden that he IS being called out on it, he’s sorry and feels bad.

    SUCH bullsh*t.

  11. photo jojo says:

    His comments were so over the top, so offensive, so outrageous, I’m sort of inclined to believe he was really talking off the cuff and not scripted. Not that I’m excusing him, because I’m not. I just think I can see how he’d have one joke he thought was funny, it got a laugh and he ad libbed his way into a sh*tstorm. And he deserves the scrutiny, the boycotts, the negative press, all of it. He’s a grown man, and ultimately he’s responsible for what comes out of his mouth. I hope he’s really sincere about taking responsibility but … I’m not holding my breath on that lasting long term.

  12. original kate says:

    he needs to STFU, big time.

  13. xxodettexx says:

    “I like this lip service/apology, mostly because of this: “When all of this set in, I realized how hurtful my words were. Not asking anyone to feel sorry for me or pity me, but I definitely don’t want or need people to defend me. In my heart, I know that the words I used are indefensible.” That’s something that people like Chris Brown and Mel Gibson have never been able to choke out, you know? It’s not just “I was wrong” – it’s “I’m so wrong, I’m not a victim, I have literally no defense.” In the Age of Victimhood, where every d-bag who does something bad tries to play it like he’s the victim of something, I’m just saying that Tracy’s attitude is refreshing.”

    seconded!! that was exactly how i felt! i mean, i agree, his words were so despicable, but if he can grow from this and get the word out that it is wrong to use hateful words for comedy, especially in light of the epidemic of gay bullying, then great! and i like that he isnt asking for anyone to defend him or even pretend we should “understand” his “comedy”… its been the first public apology i have been able to read and not immediately roll my eyes at!

  14. jenni says:

    I won’t damn him if he do, damn him if he don’t, cos his efforts to make up for what he did, even if financiallly motivated, are a good thing. The fact he’s going to speak to gay youths thus see the faces of the ones who have to live in the homophobic climate he’s been, up til now, helping create, is a very good thing. That kind of thing is something all who spew hate should do. Having to go face to face with those you hurt is meaningful and can change a person. What he is doing is a good example for his fans, including his young male fans, who need all the modelling they can get that homophobia is not normal or funny. The fact he shares his father passed of AIDS (in a fearmongering, horrible era where people wanted AIDS victims quarantined) is significant in several ways. Most homophobes would never share that their father died of AIDS. He has alot of work to do but sometimes F-ups like this give people opportunity to grow in ways they drastically need. I hope for him, and for us, that he is sincere. I think there is a chance he is.

  15. yepp says:

    thanks for saving ur job!

  16. Amanda G says:

    All I can hope is this experience has opened up his ignorant mind to accepting gay people and learning more about them.

  17. Lenore says:

    I agree it’s a better, more convincing apology than the usual “sorry if you were offended” crap, but the simple fact is that he said what he said and it’s hard to imagine that anyone would say those things who did not mean them. There were no discernible jokes in that monologue, it was just hateful bile.

    Obviously a case of Gibsonitis – what he is with his friends, what he presents to his workmates, obviously conceals a festering core of prejudice (perhaps like Gibson, inherited from his family background). Maybe it shocks even him that such hate exists in him; maybe not. Clearly he has some work to do on his attitudes, whether it’s latent homophobia or just his perception of comedy.

    It’s for his workmates and friends to determine which Tracy Morgan they consider the “real” one – the sweet doofus they’ve worked with for years, or the vicious, violent-tempered homophobe that has revealed himself onstage.

  18. Chris says:

    When you find yourself in a hole stop digging, Tracy.

  19. Anna says:

    wasn’t there another “incedent” 3-4 years ago?

  20. Emily says:

    Maybe I’m just being naive, but I liked his apology, too. I hope he means it.

  21. piedlourde says:

    Nope. I don’t believe him. That vitriolic “comedy” “bit” had to come from somewhere if he thought that the things he spouted were funny in the first place.

    F%&k… I’m going to have major trouble watching 30 Rock from now on. I just recently got over Baldwins’ “rude, thoughtless little pig” tirade, for Godtopus’ sake!

  22. Mary Jane says:

    @17. Lenore:
    It’s for his workmates and friends to determine which Tracy Morgan they consider the “real” one – the sweet doofus they’ve worked with for years, or the vicious, violent-tempered homophobe that has revealed himself onstage.

    I agree totally. Well said…

  23. Marilyne says:

    Before I go further, let me just say that I think Tracy went to far and that the jokes weren’t even funny.
    BUT
    I’m a firm believer that comedy is the best way to destroy taboos and preconceived ideas. Differences between men and women and jokes about fat and ugly people, not so much for me. I like raw, shocking comedy. So I disagree when people say there’s some subjects you simply cannot laugh about. That’s not true, you just have to find the right way to do it.
    Making racist jokes, for exemple, doesn’t automatically means your racist. It can also means you want to bring people’s attention on racism. And when it’s well done (and even when it’s not, as you can see right here) it works.
    The real problem are the stupid people in the audience thinking “My god, he’s so right”. And that’s the only reason why comedians have to be careful about what they say, in my opinion.

  24. RHONYC says:

    i was so shocked & hurt by his rant.

    i wanted to pull a Dixie Chicks & say i ‘was ashamed that my fave comedian from SNL is from Brooklyn’ when i heard about it.

    i mean it just didn’t make sense. listening to his Howard interviews, he came across so sincere about his past, his mistakes and seems like the most lovable human ‘Atreyu’ ever. i didn’t want to believe he was a pig deep down.

    but one thing i remembered is that Tracy comes from my neck of the woods…Bed-Stuy. that said, all, and i mean ALL of the dudes i grew up with would rather be snitches to gangs/the mob than admit being friends/related/or themselves gay.

    and A-L-L of us knew a brother/sister/cousin/aunt/uncle that was gay.

    it’s one of those ridonkulous black community black taboos that create lil’ homophobic monsters. especially out of the boys.

    i am happy that Tracy has manned up to his mistakes and has met with GLAAD & the LGBT to express his apologies & admit his ignorance to the plights of the community in our entire country.

    it is also encouraging that he plans to meet next week with the Tennessee LGBT community in particular 2 apologize & seek education. i do hope that he plans serious advocacy at this time. young bros/sis etc. in ‘the hood’ need to see someone from there say being gay is ok. period.

    hopefully, this will be a step toward all people gaining acceptance for all individuals no matter their orientation.

    one homophobe at a time.

    go Tracy!

    No. Sleep. Till. Brook-lyn! 😉

  25. mrdave says:

    Simply one of the unfunniest “comedians” out there. My 16 year old makes wittier comments. Hope he doesn’t blow all the dough he makes on ’30 Rock’. Once that is done, unless Tina Fey gives him another gig, his star will fade quickly. Not quickly enough for me.

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