Filed by KOSU News in US News.
June 10, 2011

Comedian Tracy Morgan says he’s sorry for telling an audience that he would “pull out a knife and stab” his son if the son came out as gay.

The 30 Rock actor apologized Friday to his fans and the gay and lesbian community for what he called “my choice of words” during his June 3 appearance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

A Facebook account posted by an audience member said Morgan’s stand-up performance was full of homophobic references. The Ryman Auditorium issued its own apology afterward for Morgan’s behavior.

Morgan denies being a hateful person. He acknowledged that “even in a comedy club” what he said went too far “and was not funny in any context.”

Bloggers and others are already questioning whether Morgan’s apology is sufficient.

Mark Malkin of the E! Online blog offered this statement from the Human Rights Campaign’s Fred Sainz:

“Tracy Morgan exercised extremely poor judgment and he did the right thing by apologizing, but that’s just not enough.

“He’s a role model and Morgan now has a responsibility to make amends for his horribly hurtful and dangerous ‘comedy’ routine. He also needs to go further than his apology and correct the record: no one should feel ashamed because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and they should definitely not become a victim of violence.”

Morgan’s comments were highlighted in various published reports, many quoting audience member Kevin Rogers.

“I went to Tracy Morgan’s show to laugh and enjoy someone who I thought was a brilliant comic,” Rogers told The Truth Wins Out, which bills itself as “fighting anti-gay lies.”

“I left feeling like the joke was on me,” Rogers said. “For one minority to attack another minority in such a way, without provocation, is appalling and in no way humorous.”

Among the remarks attributed to Morgan: Being gay is a choice and young victims of bullying directed at gays are simply “whining.” [Copyright 2011 National Public Radio]