Tina Fey Explains Her Facial Scar, Talks Republican Parents

Tina Fey graces the cover of the January issue of Vanity Fair, and in an interview with Fey and her husband Jeff Richmond inside, her distinctive facial scar is finally explained as a random childhood slashing.

From the NY Post, which got an early look at the article:

...she and hubby Jeff Richmond note she's never talked publicly about a mystery slashing incident, which happened when she was 5.

"It was in, like, the front yard of her house, and some body just came up, and she just thought somebody marked her with a pen," Richmond says.

The "30 Rock" star has refused to discuss the scar. "It's impossible to talk about it without somehow seemingly exploiting it," she says.

The AP has more on Fey's scar from VF:

Says Richmond: "That scar was fascinating to me. This is somebody who, no matter what it was, has gone through something. And I think it really informs the way she thinks about her life."

Fey says talking about the attack would seem like exploiting it.

Says Fey: "It's really almost like I'm able to forget about it, until I was on-camera, and it became a thing of `Oh, I guess we should use this side' or whatever. Everybody's got a better side."

She also talks about her parents:

"I grew up in a family of Republicans. And when I was 18 and registering to vote, my mom's only instruction was 'You just go in and pull the big Republican lever.' That's my welcome to adulthood. She's like, 'No, don't even read it. Just pull the Republican lever."' (Fey made a call to arrange for Richmond's excited Republican parents and sister to meet Palin at a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania.)

READ WHOLE ARTICLE - since put online

Here is Tina on November 20:

Comments

[UDZOO]

I can't believe there are so many negative comments about Tina and her scar story. Everything from she made it up to she deserved it. I grew up in her neighborhood and I know the story is true and no 5 year old deserves anything like that. She is so funny, smart, sweet and humble. If you are one of the people who wrote these terrible things you might want to examine your own life.

[karmical]

I never noticed it before, and I've been a fans for years. She's super cute in that smart/sexy librarian sort of way... and her hysterical sense of humor only helps her inner beauty radiate.

[demolove]

I've lived in neighborhoods where reprisals for childhood disrespect were commonplace. When you have a quick mouth, you'd better have the quick feet to go along with it. Considering the entire article, she probably said something cutting to the wrong person and got a little payback. That is why there is no full explanation. Bet the farm that she'll never set foot in Alaska. But who really gives a RFA, anyway? Is this all we have to talk about, amidst the hope and dreams and maturing of America?
I've got a scar from a doberman, but do any of you care to discuss that? Defense rests.

[Joelcan]

Um...if you were starring on a primetime show every week with a facial scar, probably people would want to discuss it...?

And...you're saying because she might have said something slightly sarcastic, she deserved a knife to the face....?

Angry much?

[AnthonyDidge]

Let me guess you said something to the wrong dog, and that dobie really thought you had it coming.

[jbink]

Are you kidding me? She was FIVE at the time. Please go away.

[kpowellokc]

Reprisals for childhood disrespect? Scarred by a Doberman? Yes, lets discuss...tell us about your childhood. I think you're about to have a break-through.

[Bridgid1954]

My Lord, What kind of childhood created you? To be so cavalier about child abuse and mutilation as an acceptable and reasonable reaction to an off the cuff comment. And absolutely nothing concrete regarding the motivation of the monster that caused Ms. Fey's personal childhood trauma.

May I ask what motivated the Dobie to turn on you? In my extensive experience in working with dogs, they usually retaliate if frightened or tormented by someone. You know, like tying firecrackers to a tail or pelting it with rocks or steady and systematic abuse. Or were you standing innocently and trustingly and a dog turned bad by cruelty and anger, saw you as a potential target to vent some rage?

Perhaps very much like Tina Fey was attacked? Learn compassion through your own experience or don't waste my time..

[cobobs]

What scar?

[Liberalrep1980]

Why can't there be more like her?!

[Roland1232]

So true :)

[KAOS13AL]

"MAJOR CLEVEAGE"?!?!?!?!? I GOT MORE CLEVEAGE THAN HER & I'M A GUY!!! GOD, YOU GOTTA GET OUT MORE...SEXUAL REPRESSION REALLY IS REALLY NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR YOU...

[kpowellokc]

So, you have man-boobs? Love it, sexy!

[kpowellokc]

So you have man boobs?

[Pumpski]

What a dirty lunatic that cut her when she was a child. I hope karma got that crazy freak good. I hope he was caught and put in prison and never got out. You know how it goes for scum like that that get into prison. They don't last long. I think it pushed Tina to success however. If it didn't happen then destiny somehow might not have dealt her the hand she has now. She might have ended up being an accountant or something. But somehow her creative abilities shined through and she did something great with her life.Sometimes you can use negatives to help propel you to greatness. This picture here really shows it more than I knew about it. She is still very cute. And as you can see her fan base is huge so it doesn't throw us for any loops. We are not phased by it since it usually is very inconspicuous. Best of luck in the future for her too.

[keckie38]

I just love this Tina she is smart, funny and beautiful.
Thanks for the laughs T keep em cummin.

[AZWolfster]

To paraphrase a quote from "Family Guy," she did a hootchy-coo pose for the cover, but she did it ironically.

As for the scar, I'm glad the reason for it is out - now those of us who wondered are satisfied. And yes, I believe the story - who would make up a dull but bizarre story like that? But it's a sexy scar on her because it obviously doesn't bother her in the least, which is very cool. Anyway, she is SO hot and smart and slightly mean-girl scary, who cares?

[reasonlives]

Never noticed the scar until this article drew attention to it. Not a problem, she looks great. Quite hot.

[Paxhope]

I'm confused. She's all feminist moral but poses, as above, flashing some major cleavage in an objectifying pose? I like both stances but want her to understand that it's a bit confusing.

[OddieGibbon]

Well, gosh, maybe she's a complete, multifaceted human being who's free to express herself in more than one kind of way, hmm?

[hufSfpoUguyX]

Not like that Gubner from Alaska that jus spends lots of money on hair stylists.

[CC1]

I could care less. This woman makes a living making fun of others.

[jasonmvale]

She makes a living writing comedy, the majority of which has nothing to do with making fun of others. Sarah Palin is one of the only impersonations she has done. She had done much more writing for SNL than she did acting if you were to check your facts before making ignorant remarks.

[CC1]

Name-calling? How ignorant is that? How about if you were a butt of a SNL joke/skit?

[gisellestwocents]

Id rather be laughed at than demonized...

[Lilliputianm]

Tina Fey graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1988. As a fellow resident of Delaware County Pennsylvania, I can point out that until the Pennsylvania Primary this April the County was more than 50% Republican with another 5-10% registered as Independents. It used to be even more Republican. The local governments are so Republican that there are still rumors in towns like Ridley, Upper Darby and Springfield that you must be registered Republican to get your garbage picked up or to get a zoning variance if you need to remodel your house. The County council hasn't had a Democrat since 1979, when they abolished the minority seat and the 7th Congressional District has elected only 2 Democrats since the Civil War; Bob Edgar and Joe Sestak. Of Course her parents were Republican.

[iheartsmartpeople]

I always knew she had a scar but had no idea it had such a horrible story behind it - I figured it was from a childhood injury or something like many of us have somewhere on us (or at least I have one)...

The VF spread doesn't strike me as too sexy - I think she looks great! We need more women like Tina representing in Hollywood - although I will say that the VF article made her sound like a bit of a prude when it comes to her personal life but she doesn't seem to judge others for what they do in theirs so I guess it's ok to be a prude.

[ron ray]

the scar? jeez, I stopped noticing the scar after the first couple of nights on weekend update. I;d say something cheesy like "smart is the new sexy" but she's just downright sexy and smart two. and funny. the kid of woman to make me laugh, make me cry, make me write bad checks...