Tracy Morgan
(PHIL McCARTEN - REUTERS)
The homophobic comments comedian Tracy Morgan made at a Nashville comedy show are being condemned by his “30 Rock” castmates and fellow comedians.
An eyewitness account from Morgan’s June 3 performance at the Ryman Auditorium, posted to Facebook, alleged that Morgan made several homophobic comments, including saying that if his son were gay he’d stab him to death. Morgan apologized, saying the comment “clearly went too far and was not funny in any context.”
“30 Rock” creator and star Tina Fey said in a statement that she was disturbed by “the violent imagery” Morgan used, adding that it “doesn’t line up with the Tracy Morgan I know, who is not a hateful man and is generally much too sleepy and self-centered to ever hurt another person.”
“I hope for his sake that Tracy's apology will be accepted as sincere by his gay and lesbian co-workers at ‘30 Rock,’ without whom Tracy would not have lines to say, clothes to wear, sets to stand on, scene partners to act with, or a printed-out paycheck from accounting to put in his pocket,” Fey said.
Chris Rock initially tweeted in defense of Morgan, saying: “I dont know about you, but I dont want to live in world where Tracy Morgan cant say foul inappropriate [expletive.]”
Wanda Sykes, who is openly gay, responded to Rock, tweeting “ I Do! U Keep the world, just break me off an evolved country.”
Rock eventually backtracked: “when i first heard the statement i thought it was offensive but it also reminded me of my father saying ill kill you if you ever bring home a white girl but after reading everything tracy said . wow i get it that [expletive] wasn't called for and i don't support it at all. now can i please go to the tony awards without getting my [butt] kicked.”
“30 Rock” actor Cheyenne Jackson said in a statement to Out.com that he is “incredibly disappointed by [Morgan’s] actions, and hope that his apology is sincere.”
“The devastating repercussions of hate-filled language manifest in very real ways for today's LGBTQ youth. I've known Tracy for two years, spent many long hours with him on set, and I want to believe that this behavior is not at the core of who he is,” Jackson said.
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