Well, we asked the question. In response to a report that Tracy Morgan allegedly went on an anti-gay rant at his Nashville show on June 3, we asked in a press release for Morgan to either confirm or deny the report, and if confirmed, issue an explanation and/or apology. Morgan’s publicist has not replied to Truth Wins Out’s request for a comment, but another reporter apparently got through, as reported by the Examiner:
Nicole Charbot [sic], Morgan’s publicist, issued a statement simply saying “There is no comment. Thank you.” When concern was shown for the well-being of Morgan’s child, Charbot issued another simple statement which read, “There is no comment, thank you for your inquiry.”
That’s got to be disappointing for the many gay fans of Tracy and 30 Rock.
UPDATE: The co-founder of Unicorn Booty, Kevin Farrell, got the statement from Tracy Morgan’s publicist. Here is their statement, as well as Kevin’s letter to her. [Good work, by the way, Kevin!]
Tracy Morgan’s publicist, Nicole Chabot sent us a chilly “There is no comment, thank you for your inquiry.” after we contacted her voicing our concern for the safety of Morgan’s child. Our letter, below:
Ms. Chabot,
I’m writing in regards to Mr. Morgan’s reported homophobic meltdown while on stage in Nashville. While Mr. Morgan reportedly said a vast number of hateful anti-gay things, I’m by far the most troubled about his threat to stab his own son to death.
I know you commented earlier that there would be no comment on this subject, but you must understand by now that this situation isn’t going to swept under the rug. I represent Unicorn Booty, the most-followed gay blog in the world, and would appreciate it greatly if you would elaborate further beyond your initial “no comment.”
Thank you for your time.
Kevin Farrell
Co-Founder, Unicorn Booty
UPDATE DEUX: Lest anyone think this is happening in a vacuum, reports of Tracy Morgan’s onstage homophobia have circulated for years. I admit that, as a longtime fan of Tracy’s [his Brian Fellow SNL sketch is one of my all time favorite things] and of 30 Rock [indeed, on a lazy Sunday less than two weeks ago, I had a veritable 30 Rock marathon], I was actually not aware of it. But quite a few readers have made comments to the effect of “Google ‘Tracy Morgan homophobic.’ He’s always been like this.” So I did. Here are some of the links that came up. Much of it seems to center around a specific Carnegie Hall show in 2009:
November 10, 2009, New York Daily News: “Audience members walk out of Tracy Morgan’s Carnegie Hall performance.” Describes similar jokes as recounted in this week’s report, about homosexuality being a choice.
November 10, 2009, Rod 2.0: “Fans flee Tracy Morgan’s raunchy, homophobic Carnegie Hall show.”
The Advocate: Tracy Morgan calls being gay a choice.
It’s interesting that one of the jokes described in these pieces is virtually identical to Kevin Rogers’ report. It just sounds like he may have stepped it up in Nashville last week.
nchabot@bncpr.com
Ms. Chabot:
Reference is to numerous credible reports that your client the comedian Tracy Morgan has been inflaming irrational anti-gay hatred among his followers during various of his recent live performances.
Several concerned persons have now reported that when asked about your client’s gay-bashing, you have said “No comment.”
Please understand that the LGBT community across America is powerfully united in refusing to allow your client with impunity to defame it and to urge violence against it.
Credible reports from eye-witnesses to your client’s gay-bashing state that your client said if he had a gay son, and the son did not conform to your client’s expectations for conventional gender conformity, your client would take out a knife and then stab his gay son to death until he was dead.
Precisely that scenario does sometimes occur in households with anti-gay parents with gay children. Therefore, it is completely intolerable that your client would ever again repeat these shocking utterances.
Please advise us of whether your client Tracy Morgan is committing to never again bashing gays in public, so that we will know whether we must begin organizing boycotts of him, those who employ him and those who advertise with venues that show his programing and/or movies.
Scott Rose
Funny how he seems to have so much to say to a controlled and paying crowd but to a National Audience he clams up? If he stands by what he said. Then he should stand up and embrace his words and take whatever comes his way.
Then again like most bullies when in a situation they do not control and they are not surrounded by their like minded friends who will be there to outnumber others they run and cower and hide like the cowards that they are.
It disturbs me very much that they’re not saying anything. Because of the nature of the report, but also taking into account that reports of Morgan’s homophobia have circulated forever, we wanted to make it very clear that we were simply asking whether this indeed happened the way it was described. You know, is this report accurate, to Morgan’s eyes? The fact that they don’t even feel the need to answer the question at this point makes me sad.
I really want to hear what Tina Fey has to say about this.
I do too.
What people must keep in mind is that this was NOT meant as humor – it was a meant as a threat. You had to be there to hear the audience hoot, holler, shout, and clap with excitement EXACTLY as if you were at a lynching in 1925 (where pics show people grinning). This is the sickest of the sick. I hope to hell it is not suddenly dismissed and forgotten with some b.s. apology. What Tracy said, he meant. It was very very clear.
Lee, you were there? e-mail me. ehurst@truthwinsout.org
[...] source [...]
what bothers me is that its nine hours (a lifetime in a 24 hour news cycle) and no major news source is reporting on this story. i’m not saying that he isn’t a homophobe, he very well may be, but i’d encourage everyone to reserve judgment until its vetted and reported by something other than a blog or advocacy news site.
[...] these were only some of the most egregious parts of this anti-gay tirade. When reached for comment by several reporters, his publicist responded simply, “No comment.” “In an era when strong role models [...]
We agree dlm411. We should not rush to conclusions and should reserve final judgment until we have all of the facts and hear from Morgan or his representatives.
This is why we are disturbed that they have not answered our reasonable request to set the record straight. They have stonewalled us, so far, and told another site “no comment.”
We hope to hear from Morgan today.
When people are commenting ” It’s just a comedy routine, he wasn’t being serious”….it makes me cringe.
He obviously has issues with homosexuals. Since this rant has been going on for a few years, and he has had people literally walk out of his show. Any comedian who cares about their career and fans knows when to stop. Michael Richards lost his career, but he apologized and has paid dearly for his rant. Tracy obviously doesn’t care. Which is sad…because he makes millions off of a show that not only has a number of gay actors on it, but is written by someone who adores the gay community.
[...] reached for comment by several reporters, his publicist responded simply, “No [...]
[...] the part about homosexuality being a choice was also featured in Tracy Morgan’s 2009 Carnegie Hall show, you know, the one that people walked out of because it was [...]
What “disappoints” me is the lack of response from the network and, indeed, from Tina Fey. When Kobe Bryant and Joakim Noah used the F-word (and I don’t mean the four-letter one), the NBA fined them big bucks. Then several NBA stars made not one, but TWO PSAs about gay-bashing. If the notoriously homophobic NBA can do it, then why not the “liberal media”?
Hey Tracy? Why don’t you and yer publicist just “man up” already?
[...] reached for comment by several reporters, his publicist responded simply, “No [...]
[...] Truth Wins Out – Tracy Morgan’s Publicist Replies: “No Comment” [UPDATED] Tags: booty, chabot, gay fans, s child, tracy morgan, truth wins out [...]
I smell another self-loathing closet case (maybe on the DL?!)