5:39
- ABC News
- May 30, 2018
'Roseanne' canceled after star's comments
Wanda Sykes, a consulting producer on the show, resigned after seeing the tweet.
5:39
ABC television group and ABC News are both owned by Disney.
Iger called Jarrett before publicly announcing that the show was canceled.
At an MSNBC town hall on racism Tuesday night, Jarrett thanked Iger for calling her. \"I want to mention Bob Iger, who is the CEO of Disney called me before the announcement, he apologized, he said he had zero tolerance for that sort of racist, bigoted comment and he wanted me to know before he made it public that he was cancelling his show and so I appreciate that they did that so swiftly,\" she said, adding that she thought it was the right move.
Barr's comparison of Jarrett, a longtime Obama family confidante and lawyer, to an ape and the assertion that she has a connection to the organization Muslim Brotherhood, which she does not, stoked immediate anger on social media.
Barr tweeted an apology to the show's writers and actors late Tuesday, saying, \"I just want to apologize to the hundreds of people, and wonderful writers (all liberal) and talented actors who lost their jobs on my show to my stupid tweet.\" She also said she would be doing an interview on Joe Rogan's podcast, \"The Joe Rogan Experience,\" on Friday.
Don't feel sorry for me, guys!!-I just want to apologize to the hundreds of people,and wonderful writers (all liberal) and talented actors who lost their jobs on my show due to my stupid tweet. I will be on Joe Rogan's podcast friday.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/roseanne-barr-tweet-ht-jc-180529_hpEmbed_29x14_384.jpg\")
Gilbert, who played Barr's daughter on the show, condemned Barr's tweet. \"Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show,\" she tweeted.
Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are 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.
— sara gilbert (@THEsaragilbert) May 29, 2018
In another post, she mourned the end of the sitcom reboot on Twitter.
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
Before the cancellation, Twitter users called the remarks racist and bigoted, asking ABC's television group and Disney if she would be allowed to continue on the show.
The comparison by Rosanne Barr on ABC of Former Obama aide, Valerie Jarrett to an APE is racist and inexcusable. ABC must take action NOW!
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) May 29, 2018
Good morning @ABCNetwork , @Disney. The public twitter comments of Roseanne Barr this morning are offensive and racist. They are not \"a joke\" but are consistent with repugnant commentary she has made and continues to make. This is unacceptable.
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) May 29, 2018
And amidst the backlash, Sykes, an African-American actress and consulting producer on the show, tweeted that she wouldn't be returning to \"Roseanne.\"
I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC.
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 29, 2018
Jarrett, who is from the president’s hometown of Chicago, is not Muslim and is not a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s oldest and largest Islamic organization, according to research by the fact-checking website Snopes.
The unsubstantiated claim that she practices Islam arose at times during her tenure in the Obama administration.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/valerie-jarrett-gty-jc-180529_hpEmbed_7x5_384.jpg\")
Barr deleted the initial tweet and apologized hours after the original comment, though not before tweeting that Islam is not a race and includes “EVERY RACE of people,” an apparent dispute to calls that the tweet was racist. Islam is the religion practiced by Muslim people around the world.
In her apology, Barr called the tweet a “bad joke about her politics and her looks.” She also said she was \"leaving Twitter,\" but didn't specify if that meant deleting her account.
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
I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
Barr regularly tweets about politics and is an avid supporter of President Donald Trump, as is the character she plays on the ABC sitcom.
On Monday, Barr falsely tweeted that Chelsea Clinton was married to Democratic donor George Soros’ nephew. She later corrected herself. The daughter of former President Bill Clinton and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is married to Marc Mezvinsky.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/roseanne-barr-gty-jc-180529_hpEmbed_23x15_384.jpg\")
Good morning Roseanne - my given middle name is Victoria. I imagine George Soros’s nephews are lovely people. I’m just not married to one. I am grateful for the important work @OpenSociety does in the world. Have a great day! https://t.co/mXokiTEwN7
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) May 29, 2018
CORRECTION: CHELSEA CLINTON IS NOT MARRIED TO A SOROS NEPHEW. HER HUSBAND IS THE SON OF A CORRUPT SENATOR, SO SORRY!: https://t.co/FuEVnmnxu4
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
On “Good Morning America” in March when the show “Roseanne” first aired its hit reboot, Barr told ABC News’ Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos that she received a congratulatory call from Trump, who she said she’s known for a long time.
The call was “exciting,” she said, and in the interview, she reflected on a need for more “civilized” conversation in the country.
\"That's what we need to do as a country is figure out what we don't like, talk to each other and discuss how we're going to get it changed or fixed,\" Barr said. \"I really hope that it opens up civil conversation between people instead of just of mud-slinging. I really do because I think we need to be more civilized in that,\" she said.
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