NBC
For the first time since the 2014 car accident that killed fellow comedian and longtime friend James McNair, Tracy Morgan is speaking out. In an interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer, the actor got emotional while discussing the traumatic incident.
On how he’s been doing since the accident:
“I’ve been down. I have my family. I have my wife, Megan, we’re about to be married and my daughter and son. They keep my spirits up.”
On losing friend James “Jimmy Mac” McNair in the crash:
“The case is settled, but the pain will always be there for Jimmy Mac, a close friend of mine, a comrade in comedy. He was a loving man and he was a warm man. He was a good man and it just hurts me to see that he’s gone.”
On learning of Jimmy’s death after spending two weeks in a coma:
“I just remember that when I came through Megan was right there. Mark was right there and that’s basically what I remember.”
“[I found out he died] two weeks later when I came out the coma. My lady told me, ‘We put Jimmy to rest.’ I didn’t feel anything. I just came out of a coma. Then, when I got home, it really hit me. Every day I would just watch the accident on YouTube and one day I came across his funeral on YouTube. I just lost it for about a week.”
On why he went to YouTube:
“I had to know what happened to my friend. I had to know and I had to pay my respects and that was my way.”
On the extent of his injuries:
“There are times where I have my good day and my bad days, where I forget things. There are times where I get the headaches, and the nose bleeds. I won’t even let my lady know because I don’t want her to be worried about it.”
On telling his family to stay home the day of the accident:
“My daughter was teething so I told Megan, ‘You and the baby stay home. I’m going to go to Delaware and I’ll be right back.’ When I look at that accident, I don’t think…my daughter was 10 months old…I don’t think she would’ve made it. That’s really the thing that tears me up.”
On his will to return to comedy:
“I love comedy. I’ll never stop loving her. I love comedy and I can’t wait to get back to her, but right now my goal is just to heal and get better because I’m not 100 percent yet, I’m not. And when I’m there, you’ll know it. I’ll get back to making you laugh. I promise you.”
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