ABC Cancels ‘Roseanne’ After Racist Comments From Roseanne Barr
ABC cancelled the very popular “Roseanne” on Tuesday afternoon, just hours after the co-creator and star of the show, Roseanne Barr, tweeted a racist comment about Valerie Jarrett, former top adviser to Barack Obama.
Roseanne Barr has made racist comments in the past, previously comparing black women to apes. Needless to say, some thought it was not out of character for Barr to share that Valerie Jarret looked like “the muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby.”
Before apologizing, Barr claimed she was joking. However, as the post began to receive backlash Tuesday morning, Barr took to Twitter again. “I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter,” she declared.
She later shared a lengthier tweet: “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.”
https://twitter.com/therealroseanne/status/1001471669641216005
“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” stated Channing Dungey, President of ABC Entertainment.
ABC Entertainment cancels Roseanne Barr's show, calling her comment on Twitter "abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values." https://t.co/2HJA1onFiw [Corrects link] pic.twitter.com/XEdNA8RLft
— ABC News (@ABC) May 29, 2018
Wanda Sykes, a comedian who serves as a consulting producer on “Roseanne” announced her departure from the show.
A show-runner for the reboot and one of its most outspoken liberal supporters, Whitney Cummings, left the series earlier this month.
“Working on Roseanne was a surreal, incredible experience,” Cummings tweeted. “Due to work commitments and my tour schedule, I’m gonna have to watch the Conners from the sidelines next season. It was an honor to work with such an incredibly talented group of actors, writers and crew. Harvey Levin, you can stop calling my cell phone now.”
I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC.
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 29, 2018
Following Barr’s Twitter rants, ABC has decided to cancel the show upon receiving numerous suggestions and demands to take action. Barr has yet to comment on the show’s cancellation.
