‘Roseanne’ reboot canceled following Barr’s racist Twitter post
May 29, 2018, 10:59 AM | Updated: May 30, 2018, 6:26 am
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
The reboot of the family comedy show “Roseanne” has been canceled after Roseanne Barr, the star of the series, posted a racist tweet Tuesday about ex-President Barack Obama’s former adviser Valerie Jarrett.
Channing Dungey, the head of ABC Entertainment, said in a short statement that Barr’s tweet was “abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values” and that the company decided to cancel her show.
Robert Iger, the chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, also shared the statement on Twitter, saying it was “the right thing” to do.
From Channing Dungey, President of ABC Entertainment: "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show."
There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing.— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) May 29, 2018
Barr’s tweet, which was posted Tuesday morning but since has been deleted, referred to Jarrett as the “offspring of the ‘Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes.’”
Shortly after the tweet was made, Barr issued an apology to Jarrett, calling it a “bad joke about her politics and her looks” that was “made in bad taste” and said she was quitting Twitter.
I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
The tweet about Jarrett was one of many bizarre, racist or anti-Semitic tweets Barr made on Tuesday. She also accused Chelsea Clinton of being married to a family member of investor and billionaire George Soros and called Soros a “nazi who turned in his fellow Jews 2 (sic) be murdered in German concentration camps and stole their wealth.”
The fallout from the Twitter incident was quick: Shortly after Barr posted her tweet about Jarrett, Wanda Sykes, the show’s former consulting producer, said that she would not be returning to the show.
I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC.
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 29, 2018
Sara Gilbert, who portrayed Barr’s daughter Darlene Conner on the show, said in a tweet that Barr’s comments were “abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least.”
This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us, as we’ve created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love— one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member.
— sara gilbert (@THEsaragilbert) May 29, 2018
Emma Kinney, who played Harris Conner, Barr’s granddaughter, on the sitcom, also tweeted out a statement on Tuesday.
I am hurt, embarrassed, and disappointed. The racist and distasteful comments from Roseanne are inexcusable.
— Emma Kenney (@EmmaRoseKenney) May 29, 2018
“Roseanne” made its revival this spring after being broadcast on ABC from 1988 to 1997.
The network announced in 2017 that it would produce a tenth season of the series, which premiered on March, 27, 2018 to more than 25 million people.
ABC announced on March 30 that the series would be renewed for an eleventh season due to the success of the premiere.
The show was popular among many conservative viewers because Barr’s character expressed support for President Donald Trump.