Watch Tracy Morgan’s First Interview Since Fatal Crash
Nearly a year after Tracy Morgan was involved in a tragic car accident that left the comedian in a coma and took the life of his friend James “Jimmy Mack” McNair, Morgan appeared on Today Monday morning for his first interview since the crash. “I can’t believe I’m here, I can’t believe I’m in front of you,” a teary Morgan told Matt Lauer before admitting, “I don’t remember the accident.”
Morgan’s interview comes a week after the comedian settled his lawsuit with Walmart, whose truck caused the fatal accident on the New Jersey Turnpike on June 7th, 2014. “The case is settled, but the pain is always going be there,” Morgan said of losing McNair in the accident. Morgan later added, “Bones heal, but the loss of my friend will never heal.” Morgan also shared that Wal-Mart took “full responsibility” for the accident and also settled with McNair’s family in addition to Morgan’s settlement. “I’m just glad my friend can rest in peace now,” Morgan said.
Morgan didn’t find out that McNair died in the accident until two weeks later, when he woke up from his coma. The comedian, who viewed footage of the accident to understand what had happened to him, also watched video of McNair’s funeral on YouTube as a way to pay his respects.
“The last time I saw Jimmy, Jimmy wrote a joke for me, it was a Donald Sterling joke, and I asked him to come with me [to the comedy show] the day before and he said ‘I’ll be there, I love you, peace,'” Morgan said. “We went there, and we did the show and I did the joke and everybody got applause breaks, and I look to the side and I see Jimmy standing there laughing, and that was the last time I seen him alive.”
Morgan also discussed his long recovery process and that he’s been encouraged by phone calls from friends and colleagues including Tina Fey. “There are times when I have my good days and my bad days. I’ll forget things. There are times when I get headaches and nosebleeds, and I won’t even let my lady know because I don’t want her to be worried about it,” Morgan said, pointing out the scars on his forehead. Morgan’s lawyer Benedict Morelli told Lauer that the 30 Rock actor continues to see a brain injury expert.
While Morgan reveals that he’d like to resume his career in entertainment, he recognizes that that will take time. “I love comedy; I’ll never stop loving her. I love comedy and I can’t wait to get back to her,” Morgan said. “But right now, my goal is just to heal and get better, because I’m not 100 percent yet, and when I’m there, you’ll know it.”