Comedian Tracy Morgan gave a tearful, emotional interview on NBC’s Today Show this morning, his first since last year’s deadly car accident that left him injured and killed his friend, James McNair.
Still holding a cane, Morgan told Matt Lauer that even though he reached a settlement with Walmart, the pain is still there. McNair was a fellow comedian, who also wrote jokes for Morgan. The former 30 Rock actor recalled that the last time he saw McNair alive, he was laughing.
“The case is settled, but the pain is always going to be there for Jimmy Mac,” Morgan said. “Bones heal, but the loss of my friend will never heal.”
The crash happened on June 7, 2014 on the New Jersey Turnpike as Morgan, McNair and others were on their way home after a performance. A Walmart truck driver rear-ended their vehicle and two other passengers were injured. Morgan sued Walmart, but the two sides reached a settlement last week.
“[Mac] was a close friend of mine, a comrade in comedy," Morgan said about McNair. "He was a loving man, and he was a warm man. He was a good man. It's just hard for me to see that he's gone."
Morgan is still recovering from his injuries and has his good days and his bad days. But his family, including his fiancee Megan, is helping him get through the pain. He explained that this was the one time that Megan and his children didn’t join him on a trip. Morgan’s attorney, Benedict Morelli, also praised the doctors who helped Morgan out.
“I’m happy that Walmart stepped up to the plate in a tremendous way and they took full responsibility,” Morgan said. “I’m just really happy that they looked out for Jimmy Mac’s family because I know my friend can rest in peace now.”
Morgan said that he would like to get back to performing, but his goal right now is to just get healthy.
screenshot from NBC Today Show video