Punchline Magazine On Tracy Morgan's Anti-Gay Rant: 'It's Time For Him To Shut The Hell Up'

Dylan Gadino of Punchline Magazine posted a response to the latest Tracy Morgan controversy, in which he outlines the difference between Tracy Morgan the actor and Tracy Morgan the comedian. More importantly, he suggests that Tracy Morgan the comedian, might want to just stop talking:

Listen, I completely support freedom of speech, especially in the realm of stand-up comedy. I also believe a stand-up act should be funny and maintain some semblance of “art,” which, of course is an incredibly subjective concept and near impossible to define.

I’m not asking for Morgan’s head. I’m not even asking him to apologize. Why should he? If he really despises gay people and we’re in a country where he’s allowed to say that, then go for it, Tracy. An apology would just be insincere– and an insincere apology is worthless....

So, Tracy can save the bullshit. Hopefully, he’ll just get off the stand-up stage for a while and stop leaning on his television credits. Most importantly, maybe he’ll just shut the fuck up. That would be nice.

The question of "how far is too far in comedy" is often raised, and usually by people who aren't equipped to answer it. But this latest dust-up over Morgan's material, so far, seems to have the comedy-faithful and the comedy-bystanders in agreement that the "30 Rock" star's set was less comedy and more bigoted rambling, and therefore, not art.

Morgan has already released an apology, but the discussion is just getting started. Read Dylan's full post here, take our poll below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Quick Poll

Did Tracy Morgan cross the line with his anti-gay material?

Yes. Edgy or controversial material is one thing; this was just hateful speech.

No. He's an artist, he was on stage, he can say what he wants in his comedy set.

I don't care. He's funny on "30 Rock."

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[i hate politics]

04:07 PM on 06/13/2011

The day is coming when every group is finally consistent¬ly protected from insults and we will have... the most boring comedy in the world.

Saying something offensive and outrageous in comedy is how a light is shined on that type of real behavior. If we can no longer differenti¬ate between what the man says in jest and what he truly feels personally¬, then comedy is dead, and we have killed it.

[BLACKMANVISION]

03:25 PM on 06/13/2011

I watched Hangover 2...someone thought that having an asian gay man call a white man the "n" word was funny. Are those who are angry at gay jokes angry about that? os are they so used to demeaning African Americans that it does not matter anymore. Comedy and Joke are that, when a comedian says anything I never take it seriously, but when a radio personality call black females on a basketball team "nappy headed H" I take that seriouslt, he does not tell joke.

[Reading22]

03:21 PM on 06/13/2011

The answer to your question: "yes, just his voice alone can be irritating".

[Erasmus Funderburke]

01:38 PM on 06/13/2011

Crappy poll choices. How about "No, he was clearly being sarcastic."

[CoffeeOnIce]

11:00 AM on 06/13/2011

This is a man who, weeks after the election of Obama, seemed to think he was already the president (no need for that pesky inauguration). His homophobic rant is just further proof that he's a moron. Some people should know better than to speak without an editing crew and a script, and he's one of them.

[antaeus]

10:35 AM on 06/13/2011

He should stop having Tony Dungy write his material.

[i hate politics]

09:43 AM on 06/13/2011

The day is coming. When every group is finally consistently protected from insults we will have... the most boring comedy in the world.

Saying something offensive and outrageous in comedy is how a light is shined on that type of real behavior. If we can no longer differentiate between what the man says in jest and what he truly feels personally, then comedy is dead, and we have killed it.

[Tone67]

08:52 AM on 06/13/2011

I posted in an article here a while back and got more responses than when i post on a political or some other issue of substance. I have never thought TM was funny and for you folks who declare he's funny on 30 rock really need to consider that he is only funny there because of funny writers, how well do you think he would do on the show if he wrote his on 30 rock material, probably not very funny. I have never been a fan of discrespectful comedy just because it is a "joke" saying "its just a joke is immature and stupid, which is why i've never like the kind of comedy that comes from self race hating types like chris rock and hate everybody on the front row dl hugley.

[kj22d9]

02:58 AM on 06/13/2011

Soon enough it will be illegal to be a white middle-classed, blue collar heterosexual male!

[BestFunnyBlog]

09:35 AM on 06/13/2011

You're dumb

[kj22d9]

10:40 AM on 06/13/2011

Thank You!

[antaeus]

10:36 AM on 06/13/2011

Sounds like you'll have nothing to worry about, then.

[westcoastprog]

07:02 PM on 06/12/2011

HERE'S THE RESULT: As far as "30 Rock"'s future in terms of numbers of viewers who will be watching re-runs---they will drop. As a result, advertising dollars will drop. To some degree, a tarnishing of the brand will result.

[MrJoyboy]

02:30 PM on 06/12/2011

Uh, many stand-up comedians I've listened to are all about misogyny, homophobia and racism. Being a "comedian" is a license to kill.

[tishimself]

11:06 PM on 06/12/2011

Maybe you could get your kicks without patronizing comics who rely on ugly misogynistic, homophobic and racist jokes? There is no "license to kill" and you should know you've crossed the goddamn line when you're advocating killing gay teenagers.

[MrJoyboy]

02:26 PM on 06/12/2011

He kind of looks like Gary Coleman blown up to full size.

[PMJ79]

03:20 PM on 06/12/2011

Ha! I laughed out loud when I read that.

[TheOuroborus]

02:05 PM on 06/12/2011

Yep, pretty much. He's should just take his money and back out of the public spot light. Either that or get a show on Fox News.

[OS2Guy]

01:06 PM on 06/12/2011

Tracy Morgan's career is over. You don't spend an hour of homophobic rant, advocate the stabbing to death of any gay child, and believe you can get away with it and your career will not suffer. Yell fire in the middle of a theater and you will be arrested. Morgan should be arrested for encouraging others, through his vile rant, to degrade, denigrate and harm, i.e., kill, gay people.

If NBC and 30 Rock don't fire him they will be boycotted and face a horrendous PR backlash. The financial cost and reputations of NBC, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin and 30 Rock itself will be ruined.

I cannot believe anyone would EVER advocate the stabbing to death of a child should that child admit to being gay. Tracy Morgan is sick but more importantly, Tracy Morgan's career is over.

[QuintinJordon]

11:36 AM on 06/12/2011

I have not heard what Tracy whatever his face said, however, I do listen to gays telling jokes about gays and that is not bigotry?

If Tracy whatever his face said about gays went over the line, then I suggest we condemn all words referring to gays -- oops, now how does one describe "gays"? Homosexuals?

I am a firm believer in the freedom of speech - If a word is hurtful or derogatory, it is because people allow it to be.

Given time, words change meanings - unless it is still relevant in the eyes of the "victims" or those that allow the word to be.

One can only imagine what words will be twisted into a bigoted, derogatory, or racist meaning in the future. Do we condemn the word, the people that use it or simply change the meaning back to what it originally meant.

Build a bridge and get over it, or soon any word could be censored for intent.

[madame fate]

01:45 PM on 06/12/2011

Why can't we all just agree not to use any words that are not universally accepted in our language and culture? Words can wound.

[Rhancheck]

08:16 AM on 06/13/2011

because we would only have around 3 words left to use for conversation, sometimes it's not the word that is said.. it's the way it is said.

[swordfis]

10:43 AM on 06/13/2011

It's an old argument without a solution. Are we going to bowdlerize Huckleberry Finn because of the N-word? (I hate the word but I hate the euphemism too). Or Merchant of Venice? The list is endless.

Lots of comics do great things with insulting words. Tracy Morgan isn't a comedian.