Tracy Morgan talks to GLAAD, promises to make amends
The next phase in the Tracy Morgan fracas regards his attempts to make amends for his homophobic statements earlier this month in Nashville, TN.
On Monday, June 13, the comic and "30 Rock" star spoke to GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios on the phone and agreed to return to Nashville and apologize in person to the audience members offended by his rant. It was one such fan - Kevin Rogers - whose posts of Morgan's comments on his Facebook page started the controversy.
Rogers reported that Morgan said, "if his son that was gay he better come home and talk to him like a man and not [he mimicked a gay, high pitched voice] or he would pull out a knife and stab that little N (one word I refuse to use) to death."
Morgan apologized for making the statement saying "I'm not a hateful person and don't condone any kind of violence against others."
Will make GLAAD PSA
In the call with Barrios he said was bullied as a kid.
"I know how bad bullying can hurt. I was bullied when I was a kid," he said. "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. 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. I hope that my fans gay, straight, whatever forgive, and I hope my family forgives me for this."
Morgan also said he'd meet with LGBT teens from the Ali Forney Center, the New York organization that offers homeless LGBT youth "safe, dignified, nurturing environments where their needs can be met, and where they can begin to put their lives back together."
In addition he agreed to shoot a PSA as part of GLAAD's upcoming "Amplify Your Voice" campaign. "By not only apologizing, but sending a message of support for gay and transgender people, Tracy will help many realize that no one should be treated differently or subjected to violence," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios in a statement.
"It is so important that Americans hear from allies like him as well as gay and transgender youth shunned by their families and parents who have lost their only children to anti-gay violence. We look forward to working with him on spreading this message to Americans."