NEW YORK – Tracy Morgan said Friday that he was sorry for telling a stand-up comedy audience in Nashville, Tenn., that if his son were gay, he would “pull out a knife and stab” him.

In a statement, the comedian and “30 Rock” actor apologized to his fans and the gay and lesbian community for what he called “my choice of words” but what was characterized by others as an anti-gay rant during his June 3 appearance at the Ryman Auditorium.

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Comedian and “30 Rock” actor Tracy Morgan says he went too far June 3 when he told a Nashville, Tenn., audience that if his son were gay, he would “pull out a knife and stab” him. 2011 Associated Press file

Lindsay Lohan

A Facebook account posted by an audience member said Morgan’s performance was full of homophobic references. The Ryman issued its own apology afterward for Morgan’s behavior.

Morgan, who has three sons, denied being a hateful person and acknowledged that “even in a comedy club” what he said went too far “and was not funny in any context.”

Late Friday, Morgan’s apology was welcomed by Tina Fey, the star and executive producer of NBC’s “30 Rock,” and by NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt.

Fey said “the violent imagery of Tracy’s rant was disturbing to me.” Then, with a wry touch, she added, “I hope for his sake that Tracy’s apology will be accepted as sincere by his gay and lesbian co-workers at ’30 Rock,’ without whom Tracy would not have lines to say, clothes to wear, sets to stand on, scene partners to act with, or a printed-out paycheck from accounting to put in his pocket.”

In a more sharply worded statement, Green-blatt said Morgan’s comments “reflect negatively on both ’30 Rock’ and NBC – two very all-inclusive and diverse organizations – and we have made it clear to him that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”

Morgan’s outbursts triggered heated comment on Twitter, making him a “trending” topic Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation called on Morgan to remove anti-gay remarks from his routine “and send a strong message that anti-gay violence is not something to joke about.”

GLAAD wants Morgan to meet with families who have lost children to anti-gay violence, and with young gays and lesbians who have been estranged from their families because of their sexual orientation, said spokesman Rich Ferraro.

The Human Rights Campaign also said that apologizing wasn’t enough. The gay civil rights organization said Morgan “now has a responsibility to make amends for his horribly hurtful and dangerous ‘comedy’ routine.”

Alleged celebrity burglar loses motion

LOS ANGELES – A judge Friday rejected a motion by a woman charged with burglarizing Lindsay Lohan’s house that her statement to police was coerced and should be thrown out.

Howard Levy, an attorney for Diana Tamayo, has argued at several hearings that police should have given his client a Miranda warning that she had a right to remain silent, despite Levy’s presence for the videotaped interview days after her arrest in October 2009.

Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler disagreed and also rejected Levy’s claims that Tamayo admitted a role in the break-in at Lohan’s house because she and her family were threatened with deportation.

Rocker, model celebrating divorce

NEW YORK – Jack White and Karen Elson’s divorce party might rival their wedding.

The rocker and his model-singer wife announced Friday — on their sixth anniversary — that they’re splitting. But they’re not mourning the demise of their marriage; they’re celebrating it with a party described as a “positive swing bang hum dinger.”

The invitation asks close friends and family to “please help us celebrate this anniversary of the making and breaking of the sacred union of marriage with our best friends and animals.”

This is the second split of the year for White. Earlier, he announced the White Stripes — comprised of White and ex-wife Meg White — were calling it quits.

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