It's official: Tracy Morgan is simply going to have to quit doing stand-up.
The controversial comedian (man, I feel like such a douchey member of the "liberal media"referring to Tracy Morgan that way) and 30 Rock star once again finds himself in hot water for "offensive" remarks made during a stand-up act. In his first show back after his now-infamous homophobic rant, Morgan apparently told a joke involving the use of the dreaded C-word: cripple. During another bit, Tracy was quoted as saying, "Don't ever mess with women who have retarded kids. Them young retarded males is strong. They're strong like chimps."
Tracy, Tracy, Tracy. You hate-monger, you. You're like the Joseph Goebbels of comedy, what with all of the wretched bile that spews from your mouth, infecting our vulnerable society. Tsk, tsk.
In the deadly wake of the tasteless abomination that Morgan tried to pass off as a comedy show, Arc, a non-profit group that advocates on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is demanding an apology. "Tracy Morgan should apologize immediately. This quote is far too offensive to be excused as comedy, and it is very hurtful to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families," Arc CEO Peter Berns told E! News. (It's not surprising that E! News got the scoop, given the E! Channel's position as the number one news source for people with "intellectual disabilities").
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Pump the brakes for a second here, Mr. Berns. Who the hell are you to tell Tracy Morgan, and more importantly, the American people, what can or can't be "excused as comedy"? Look pal, you don't get to tell me what comedy is. I'm sorry you don't think jokes about retarded/mentally disabled people are funny, but I refuse to allow you or anyone else DEFINE COMEDY for me.
Berns goes on to say, "Mr. Morgan has an incredibly powerful platform from which to fix this, and if he's learned anything in the last few weeks, he can't bomb this apology." Huh? What does "powerful platform from which to fix this" mean? FIX WHAT?! Tracy Morgan didn't give your kid Down Syndrome and he certainly can't kiss it and make it all better. What the hell do you want him to FIX? Boy does this Peter Berns guy piss me off.
It wasn't hard to predict that this would happen -- this is what always happens. A celebrity says something stupid and a group like GLAAD, or the NAACP, or the ADL, or PETA pounce like a lion on a wounded wildebeest. They demand an apology and, inevitably, the celeb caves, offering some (typically) half-hearted mea culpa written by an agent or an attorney. But that isn't enough for the Word Police. Why? Because these groups aren't really "offended" by whatever nonsense was said. They behave as though they are offended, but they know just as well as we do that no one is actually "hurt" by the stupid shit famous people say. When they look at a celebrity who has just put his foot in his mouth, they don't see a lost, ignorant soul in need of enlightenment and education. They see an opportunity to cash in. Why stop at an apology when they can strong-arm a dumb celeb into appearing, pro bono of course, in a public service announcement or an ad campaign with the organization's logo splashed all over it? The only things organizations like Arc are concerned with are advancing their agenda, and justifying their own existence by proving that real prejudice exists but they will "protect" us from it. The sad thing is that real prejudice DOES really exist, but by wasting time and energy searching for it in comedy routines, these groups take their eyes off of the true sources of hate and intolerance.
Honestly, it seems to me that anti-defamation organizations attack celebu-haters for the same reason comedians pick on gays and retarded people: because they're easy targets. So the question is which special interest group will be the next to hop on the Tracy Morgan gravy train? The American Association for Amputees? The National Federation of Great Big Fat People? Stay tuned.
I think it's ridiculous to "demand apologies" from comedians, especially for comments made within the domain of a comedy club. Comedians make their living by being edgy and even offensive. When a comedian's words are posted on Facebook or in print and then endlessly debated out-of-context, they lose all flavor (let alone the funny) of the original tone and intent.
But really, the overall point is: we as a society should decide that we have more improtant things to get "upset" about than the off-the-cuff comments that comedians make while on stage.
The point of the matter is, it may be comedy in his eyes, but to everyone else it's an offensive rant, that doesn't make people laugh. If he wanted to make us laugh, actually use humor. He's a loud mouthed idiot, who should loose his career and enjoy being washed up, because after this he will be. I hope he saved his money.
Becca, here's the really important point in my view: you absolutely have the right to consider his comedy not-funny. What a comedian says inside of a comedy club is not meant for worldwide broadcast. You have the right not to support artists you're simply not into. But should a comedian have to apologize for that everytime someone is offended? Think about it: it's a very slippery and somewhat disturbing slope.
@Becca. A New York Post review of his show back in November said he mocked “cripples” and dubbed that section of his show “flat-out hilarious.”
So yeah, there's obviously quite some people who find it funny http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/tracy_goes_off_color_HZTygZHJZxbGP0uSF449kO#ixzz1QmSSyT9t