"Why I No Longer 'LIKE' Tracy Morgan"- Page 5

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/11/11 at 5:27pm

I think that's splitting hairs. Everyone's mileage may vary, I guess.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/11/11 at 5:33pm

I also demand a statement from Stefon.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/11/11 at 5:35pm

Heh.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/11/11 at 5:37pm

And the cast of NBCs cancelled KATH & KIM.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 6/11/11 at 5:55pm

Wanda got it right.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 6/11/11 at 7:24pm

Just out of curiosity, why does there seem to be NO audio clip of this rant somewhere?? With all those smartphones out there..??

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 3:00pm

Ron Nyswaner (screenwriter of Philadelphia) is currently working on a movie with Tracy Morgan. He wrote a pretty fascinating op-ed on the Huffinton Post. Here's an excerpt.


"Yesterday, on the set of our movie, I sat in a minivan with Tracy Morgan, who wept as he told me about his violent childhood. I cannot understand the brutality of dire poverty or the soul-killing experience of growing up black in racist America. And Tracy cannot understand the pain of a gay child raised in homophobic America, under the constant barrage of taunts, threats of violence, and the ever-present fear of being exposed and rejected. His pain is not mine and mine is not his. Neither of us reached adulthood unscathed by the shared prejudices of our culture. We've arrived at manhood slightly distorted, wounded and limited by our battles. We have been hurt. We make mistakes. But our mistakes are made in a cultural context. Yesterday, while the world Tweeted away, issuing accusations and condemnations, a black, straight comic and a white, gay writer sat in a minivan, crying and trying to understand."
The Contradictions of Tracy Morgan

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 4:17pm

Oh let him cry."

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 4:33pm

Interesting read. I think he makes some good points, but I don't know that I can get on board with all of them. But I'm of a lot of minds about this, anyway. I still don't think he should rightfully fired from his job for it (and I think I would feel differently if this was something that had happened at his workplace), but I honestly done know what should be "done" anyway.

Nia Vardalos has something published on Huffington Post today, as well. And like the one Erik posted, I don't agree with every point. This line stuck out to me, though - The problem is, we've all seen it: this sort of joke is usually greeted with a laugh. Even an uncomfortable one, to ease the tension, is condoning the message.

There are reports that while some were angry, many people in the audience that evening, laughed.

That's what I keep thinking about, because to me, the bigger issue isn't so much what Tracy Morgan said, but that we are still in a society that says - more or less - that this is okay.

I was invited to a trivia night about a month ago, held as a fundraiser by a friend's husband's work. Before the thing started, the announcer told a joke that had "fag" in the punchline. I got up and left, not so much because of the joke but because no one else seemed to have the reaction I did. There was quite a bit of laughter, and it wasn't of the shocked-I-can't-believe-he-said-that variety. I thought about complaining, but wondered if it would more trouble than it was worth (and I was concerned about what would happen to my friend's husband). It made me feel small and awful, similar I'm sure to how the guy whose Facebook page started this all must have felt when he was at the Tracy Morgan show. Even now, I'm still not sure what I should have done.

The problem is a lot bigger than Tracy Morgan, which is why I can't get behind the "he should be fired" bandwagon. But as I've said a million times already, I have no answers at all. All I can do is examine my own reactions and contradictions, and try to use those to spur me to act in a way I think is appropriate. I guess?
Nia Vardalos - HuffPo

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 9:39am

From November 10,2010
I'm Tracy Morgan and I want you to be kind to each other.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 10:07am

I enjoyed the Ron Nyswaner piece, but had to take it with a grain of salt. He stands to lose a lot of the public turns on Tracy.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 4:18pm

He's issued another apology.

"“Of all the sicknesses, there is probably none more abusive than homophobia,” Morgan told Simmons, adding, “In my heart, I know that the words I used are indefensible. I appreciate the love from my friends and fans, but I was wrong. Period.”

“My heart is committed to giving everyone the same rights that I deserve for myself. 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. I would never want any young person to think that I wasn’t on their side and if any young person thinks they can bully a young gay kid, come see me at 30 Rock. On the corner, I would be happy to meet you. Or Brooklyn if you can’t make it into Manhattan.”

And I think I'm satisfied with it.
Tracy Morgan apologizes again.

[romantico]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 4:39pm

I predict he will go into some kind of 'rehab' by the end of the week. This seems to be the trend when someone screws up. Your sick,go get better,come back and all is well.

His second apology goes against what he said last week and what he said back in 2009.SO which is it Tracy? Are you sorry because of all the negative publicity? You weren't sorry in 2009 when you said similar things. So which is it?

When you give your third apology could you please answer that question. What's changed since then and last week? Last week you said you'd stab your son if he was gay and now you say you won't. What changed your mind? Whatever it was it must have been over the past couple of days. I'd like Dan Savage to interview you so you can be crystal clear.

He has to expect people are going to be skeptical.

Updated On: 6/13/11 at 04:39 PM

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 4:57pm

He's also been meeting with GLAAD and will be meeting with gay youth who have been rejected by their families beacuse of their sexuality. He will also meet with people who have lost family members to anti-gay violence.

I don't know...this is more than that vile Lisa Lamenelli has ever done for the gay community. So if she gets a pass, I think he should to.
Morgan talks more about bullying and loosing Father to Aids

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 5:00pm

Also from the article linked above:


Morgan will also travel to Tennessee next week with GLAAD to participate in a press conference protesting the state's recent passage of the "Don't Say Gay" bill, which outlaws the discussion of homosexuality before the ninth grade in public schools. He will aslo film a PSA."

[romantico]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 5:02pm

After hearing all of that I am even more confused why someone like this, having gone through all of that would say the sh#* he said. Time will tell.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 4:52pm

Of course he is sorry and now working with GLAAD etc, he messed up and his team are telling him what to do to put it right. He is sorry that all this has happened, not what he said

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 5:44pm

How do you know?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 6:46pm

At this point I feel if we don't allow him to apologize and make amends then there's sort of no reason to get upset in the first place. We should shrug and say "Well, that's how he is." And I guess get him fired, if that seems appropriate. But I'm not sure what that will have accomplished.

I don't know what's in his head or heart anymore than anyone else, but these various (and quick, I might add, which is key to an apology) responses don't seem to be simply cynical press releases.

But of course, everyone has to decided their reactions for themselves.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 7:14pm

I agree with what Reg has to say. I mean, I get the feeling of wanting to draw blood and all, but I think we (and that's a royal we, not about any specific) get a little too villagers with torches about wanting to continually punish people every time they eff up.

Even if you don't accept his apology or think its sincere, if he doesn't use material like that in his act again, isn't that enough? He's apologized, he's doing PSAs, he does seem to be genuinely sincere in making amends. I don't know what more could be expected of him at this point.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 1:46am

I don't know if the second apology was more sincere or just had a better writer, but I am happy to accept it. I like to think he was telling jokes he thought these folks would find funny and apparently many of them did. We can't crucify someone for stupidity and when they ask for forgiveness, we should give it. I am not and will never be a great fan, but I feel like maybe he learned an important lesson.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 8:16am

It's not his statement that impressed me, it's the fact that he's agreed to meet with kids who have been bullied, families who lost someone to anti-gay violence, record a psa, and travel to Tenn to speak about the "don't say gay" bill. I don't remember any recent celebrity caught up in a similar mess who went to such efforts to correct their wrong.
And if he really does follow through with all of it he will be learning about the impact statements like the one he made in his comedy act have on real people. And if Tracy Morgan is willing to do that, and in the process become educated about the issue, what is the point of still calling for his head? Isn't this what we WANT to happen?
Another poster mentioned that Lisa Lampanelli gets a pass because she donated money in protest of the WBC. It would have been much easier for Tracy Morgan to write a check out to some organization...but he's doing much more than that. So why are some people still calling for his head?
Updated On: 6/15/11 at 08:16 AM

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 4:21pm

Just an update...it looks like he is following up with his promises.
Tracy Morgan meets with homeless youth at Ali Forney Center in NYC

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 4:50pm

I totally agree with you about Tracy Morgan walking the walk.

Louis CK, I'm afraid, doesn't seem to get it, though.

"And people heard this Tracy **** mostly third-hand. He didn't stand on a public stage and say this stuff. He didn't make these announcements: 'Here, America, are my views.' Where you say something makes a huge difference about what you say and what it means and what you let yourself say…And I think the person who really ****ed people up and hurt people with Tracy's words was whoever took it out of that Nashville club and put it on the national stage -- whoever called Huffington Post or whoever started this ****, and said, 'Guess what Tracy Morgan said,' and announced it to the rest of the world. He wasn't trying to say it to the rest of the world. So when I read stuff like, How are gay people going to feel when they read this? Well they didn't have to read it! They weren't part of that show. Maybe there were gay people there who were laughing. You don't ****ing know. Nobody gets to say that they represent anybody and they're offended on behalf of the whole world."

It's your fault you're offended

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/17/15 at 5:41pm

I was thinking about this thread with Tracy hosting SNL tonight.  

 

What would have happened if Joan Rivers made that joke?