Tracy Morgan Homophobic Rant to Air on ’30 Rock,’ Should NBC, Tina Fey Rehash Controversy?

Last summer, comedian Tracy Morgan went on a lengthy rant which showcased some homophobic sentiments he harbored during a Nashville stand-up gig, causing a major backlash from fans and the media.

While many have forgotten about the offensive anti-gay tirade or have simply moved onto criticizing other celebrities, NBC has plans to rehash the controversial rant and air as a part of its hit show, 30 Rock, written by Tina Fey.

MSNBC news anchor Thomas Roberts told the Huffington Post about the upcoming episode, which he has a cameo in, as he is openly gay within the journalism community and the public.

According to Roberts, Morgan's personal experiences of word vomit and apology following the homophobic rant will translate to the small screen when his 30 Rock character Tracy Jordan will endure a similar controversy.

Well, you know how a lot of their episodes mirror their lives ... They've incorporated [Morgan's rant] into the Tracy Jordan storyline, Roberts told the Huffington Post. Liz Lemon writes Tracy's apology on the show and says he's not a homophobe, he's an idiot.

According to the script written by Tina Fey, fans will backlash the fictional character and induce a protest led by a celebrity advocate, none other than Denise Richards.

That offends idiots, so while NBC is being picketed by the LBGT community, now it's also being picketed by idiots led by Denise Richards. She's the leader of the idiots.

Back in October, Denise Richards was spotted on the set of 30 Rock in what most of the media assumed was a spoof on the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York. However, it is now clear that the sighting was part of the filming for incorporating the homosexual rant into the show, as signs held by extras in the scene read, Idiot one's to come, Idiots are people too and Tsk! Gays Say.

Thomas Roberts said he is excited to participate in the episode, though the original cameo was reserved for Martin Bashir who had an assignment conflict, because he is an avid gay rights activist; Roberts came out as openly gay in 2006 and has been in a relationship with his legal partner Patrick D. Abner since 2000.

I know for me, when I went through this [coming out] in 2006, I couldn't be happier, Thomas told the Huffington Post. Now, here it is 5 years later, almost 6 years later. I'm so glad that I did it then. I see emails from kids that say 'Thank you.' I'm a reluctant role model, because I know that I'm going to mess up. Whether it's today or in the future, you know, it happens. I like to be an example of somebody who is out there, who is chasing after their dreams, and can talk about it openly and honestly, and can blend the personal and professional in an open and honest way.

But many believe incorporating the anti-gay rant into a 30 Rock sketch is a risqué move for NBC, especially given the nature of the original rant, which many dubbed as viciously homophobic and completely unhinged.

The rant at Nashville, which was actually never recorded in a transcription, however, was made public by in a Facebook post by Kevin Rogers. Here is his full post from June 4, 2011.

So tonight was the night, Tracy Morgan in the hallowed halls of the Ryman Auditorium. I always giggle a little bit when I think that the legends of country music must be rolling over in their graves knowing that there are raunchy comics on their stage. I've been a big fan of his since his days at SNL. The show was your typical hysterical dick, cum and pussy humor... I have to say it was hilarious and well worth at least 40% of the $86 we spent per ticket to see him. I figured at some point the gay jokes would fly and I'm well prepared for a good ribbing of straight gay humor. I have very thick skin when it comes to humor; I can dish and I can take. What I can't take is when Mr. Morgan took it upon himself to mention about how he feels all this gay shit was crazy and that women are a gift from God and that Born this Way is bullshit, gay is a choice, and the reason he knows this is exactly because God don't make no mistakes (referring to God not making someone gay cause that would be a mistake). He said that there is no way a woman could love and have sexual desire for another woman, that's just a woman pretending because she hates a fucking man. He took time to visit the bullshit of this bullying stuff and informed us that the gays needed to quit being pussies and not be whining about something as insignificant as bullying. He mentioned that gay was something kids learn from the media and programming, and that bullied kids should just bust some ass and beat those other little fuckers that bully them, not whine about it. He said that if his son was gay he better come home and talk to him like a man and not [he mimicked a gay, high pitched voice] or he would pull out a knife and stab that little N (one word I refuse to use) to death. He mentioned that Barack Obama needed to man up and quit being all down with this just because he has a wife and two daughters. All of this being followed by thunderous cheer and You go Tracys. Tracy then said he didn't fucking care if he pissed off some gays, because if they can take a fucking dick up their ass... they can take a fucking joke.

The sad thing is that none of this rant was a joke. His entire demeanor changed during that portion of the night. He was truly filled with some hate towards us. As far as I could see 10 to 15 people walked out. I had to fight myself to stay seated, but I knew if I got up... he won. He wanted to piss people off and get a rise. I didn't let him win by chasing me off, he surely didn't get any applause or laughter from me after that point - mainly because he was no longer funny to me. I wasn't holding back, it just wasn't funny. I won't even get started on his rant about how women should be home cooking him a fucking meal and not becoming CEOs or him talking about fucking the moms of retards.

Once again, I can take a joke. I find all sorts of things that are inappropriate funny. Life is too serious to not laugh and enjoy some humor. I now no longer enjoy Tracy Morgan's humor. It's sad that I now have to take some inventory of my love of 30 Rock.

I'm not angry... just very very very disappointed.

Later, however, Morgan apologized in a statement.

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, he said. I'm not a hateful person and don't condone any kind of violence against others. While I am an equal opportunity jokester, and my friends know what is in my heart, even in a comedy club this clearly went too far and was not funny in any context.

Morgan had also experienced a similar controversy in 2009 when many members of the audience during a standup performance at Carnegie Hall in new York City walked out when Morgan said that being gay was a choice.

As Maya Angelou once said, I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. This is especially true if it is brought up again, and again.