Tracy Morgan Meets with Homeless Gay Teens in New York

Tracy Morgan met with a group of homeless gay teens and families who have lost loved ones to hate crimes Friday in New York City. The gathering was organized by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) following homophobic remarks made by the 30 Rock star during a June 3 show in Nashville, Tenn.

Morgan has since apologized for his remarks and announced Friday that he’ll return to Tennessee on June 21 to ask pardon from those offended when he said he’d “pull out a knife and stab” his son if he were gay.

“Returning to Tennessee and apologizing to those he offended is an important step in showing that Tracy truly understands the weight of his words,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “In a state that continues to put anti-gay laws on the books, it’s now more important than ever that we let Tennesseans know that homophobia has no place on or off the stage.”

Related Stories

TV

Golden Globes: Jennifer Coolidge, Jenna Ortega, Henry Golding, Hilary Swank and Regina Hall Join as Presenters

TV

Golden Globes: Quentin Tarantino, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis and Tracy Morgan Set as Presenters

RELATED: Tracy Morgan Working With GLAAD Following Anti-Gay Tirade

Morgan’s stage remarks caused an uproar, with NBC Entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt and Tina Fey both issuing statements in response to them. “I speak for NBC and myself personally when I say we do not condone hate or violence of any kind and I am pleased to see Tracy Morgan apologizing for recent homophobic remarks in his standup appearance,” Greenblatt said.

Fey also said she was happy her co-star apologized.

“Stand-up comics may have the right to ‘work out’ their material in its ugliest and rawest form in front of an audience, but the violent imagery of Tracy’s rant was disturbing to me at a time when homophobic hate crimes continue to be a life-threatening issue for the GLBT Community,” said Fey. “It also 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.”

Said Morgan aid in a statement to THR: “I want to apologize to my fans and the gay & lesbian community for my choice of words at my recent stand-up act in Nashville.” 

Wanda Sykes and Chris Rock also spoke out about Morgan’s remarks. Rock tweeted: “I dont know about you, but I dont want to live in world where Tracy Morgan cant say foul inappropriate shit.” “I fault the TN lawmakers. They’ve created an anti-gay environment,” Sykes tweeted at Morgan.

Morgan’s 30 Rock co-star Alec Baldwin also responded, tweeting, “No one’s making excuses for Tracy.” Cheyenne Jackson, who has appeared on the NBC comedy, was “disgusted and appalled” by Morgan’s statements.