(ABC / Image Group LA)
Well, that was quick. In the wake of Roseanne Barr’s racist, early morning tweet about Valerie Jarrett (former adviser to President Obama), ABC has cancelled the Roseanne TV show revival. There will be no season 11, despite the fact that it received an early renewal, in late March. ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey released the following statement about the Roseanne cancellation: “Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show.” ABC Publicity posted the statement on its verified Twitter account.
A family comedy on the ABC television network, Roseanne first ran for nine seasons, between 1988 and 1997. Original stars Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, Michael Fishman, Alicia Goranson, and Sarah Chalke returned for the high-rated revival, alongside newcomers Emma Kenney, Ames McNamara, and Jayden Rey. Returning guest stars include Johnny Galecki, Sarah Bernhard, Estelle Parsons, James Pickens Jr., Natalie West, and Adilah Barnes. The sitcom centers on working-class couple Roseanne and Dan Conner (Barr and Goodman), their family, and friends.
Not only was the Roseanne cancellation swift, the network promptly removed all the show photography from its press site. The above image, from the 2018 Winter TCA Press Tour was one of the handful of pictures that came up in an advanced site search on Barr’s name. The only other time this reporter has seen ABC PR photos disappear that quickly, is when Mario Batali was fired from The Chew.
The show “Roseanne” was canceled Tuesday, hours after Roseanne Barr, lead actress in the rebooted sitcom, faced a public storm of criticism with a tweet calling a former presidential adviser to President Barack Obama a product of an Islamic group and a character from “Planet of the Apes.”
“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” said Channing Dungey, the president of ABC Entertainment, in a statement.
ABC television group and ABC News are both owned by Disney.
[…]Early Tuesday morning, Barr commented on Twitter: “Muslim Brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” She later deleted the tweet and apologized.
Barr was referring to Valerie Jarrett — an African American woman, lawyer and longstanding senior adviser to former President Barack Obama. Her comparison of Jarrett to an ape and the assertion that she has a connection to the organization Muslim Brotherhood, which she does not, sparked immediate anger on social media.
(Twitter screengrab via ABC News)
Barr tweeted a bit more on the subject and insisted her earlier tweet was a joke and wasn’t racist, as Islam is not a race. That claim, of course, ignores the religious bigotry, as well as the racist practice of comparing People of Color to apes, etc.
(Twitter screengrab)
Barr later deleted those tweets and issued an apology in two tweets (one; two) that read as rather forced. [NOTE: in the following photo, the tweet on top is the newer one. The earliest “apology” only read, “I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter.”]
(Twitter screengrab)
Wanda Sykes, who was a consulting producer on the sitcom, announced her decision to resign from the Roseanne production, after the tweet-storm, but prior to the cancellation.
I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC.
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 29, 2018
Disney CEO Bob Iger weighed in on the cancellation, backing up Dungey’s cancellation decision.
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
Sara Gilbert, who played original Roseanne character Darlene, and was an executive producer on the reboot, reacted both to Barr’s tweet, and to the cancellation.
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
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
Earlier in the day, Barr had targeted Chelsea Clinton with false intimations that the former First Daughter was married to a nephew of progressive benefactor George Soros. Clinton corrected her, directly. Barr issued an “apology” with another sideswipe at Clinton and her actual husband (and family), and then made false allegations against Soros, directly.
(Twitter screengrab)
(Twitter screengrab)
(Twitter screengrab)
Regarding Barr’s Soros’ slams, and more, Deadline reports:
Roseanne also noted, “By the way, George Soros is a nazi who turned in his fellow Jews 2 be murdered in German concentration camps & stole their wealth-were you aware of that? But, we all make mistakes, right Chelsea?”
Soros was born in 1930.
Today’s tweets aren’t even the first time Barr has called an African American women an ape. In 2013, she called Obama National Security Adviser Susan Rice “a man with big swinging ape balls
What do you think? Did ABC do the right thing by cancelling the Roseanne TV series revival? Let us know, below.
very upset it was cancelled even the old episodes. love her shows. an theres alot worse things that is on tv, movies so on. Roseanne show is a great family show that has been on for decades and very upset its canceled.
I’m very happy to hear the show was cancelled! I never could stand that woman, and the trash and vulgarity that comes out of her mouth!!!
I am shocked I am a firm believer in free speech Roseanne has always been criticized for her outspoken views. But other celebrities can say and so whatever they want and that’s acceptable. I have always been a fan of the show and I always will be. I have heard rumors of them bringing it back minus Roseanne. I think that would be a huge mistake. I would never watch it without her and John. It just wouldn’t be the same. And Sarah Gilbert made comments about how disappointed she was in Roseanne give me a ******* break. Roseanne started… Read more »
Seriously, people make comments all the time that may be offensive in some way or another. Tweeting late at night is often a bad call no matter who you are, but it happens. As already stated below, how many celebrities have acted out publicly, far far worse than a stupid comment…this cancellation is MASSIVE overkill in response to a tweet… I mean, this show would have been gold. Timeless entertainment for years and years to come. Does anyone think an offensive tweet will be remembered and shared happily with generations not yet even though of? It’s basically a punishment. I… Read more »
Wow, you’re all worked up about other people “bullying RB?!” It’s one thing to joke about yourself and get laughs, but bullying other people because of their looks, race, religion or gender is just that! BULLYING!! And RB is way up there with Donald Trump!
Why do we as Americans feel we should have an opinion on someone’s tweet/opinion/comment? Everyone is entitled to speak and feel how they do regardless of who takes offense. We all express ourselves differently that is what makes us who we are. Why do we feel Society should have the right to tell us how to think or speak? It might have upset someone but what business is it of ours to judge? The tweet didn’t fall back on ABC personally, it just “upset” others who felt the need that it was their business to tweet out and soon there… Read more »
I would definitely bring Roseanne back (with Roseanne Barr) as many stars have said far worse things and got away with it. Roseanne is a great show and should NOT have been cancelled. 8FnXI
I would bring the show back with Roseanne because everybody else is getting away with vile comments about the president of the United States and nobody seems to lose their jobs doing that.
I used to watch Jimmy Kimmel and thought he was funny but it seems he finds nothing else to joke about than the president and they are not funny jokes.
REALLY ….WHERE HAVE YOU PEOPLE BEEN??? This is Roseanne Barr I believe that you have seen her work before or have come across some of her remarks in the past. How could you be surprised at this….I am not saying it makes it right. I am saying there are A LOT more people doing A LOT worst that do not have their careers shut down. Have you listened to some of the people who are running this country!!! Could this be because ABC is owned by Disney?? I would think a station that is struggling to hang on would of… Read more »
Well, I guess since “Roseanne” has been canceled, she is now completely free to RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE USA, AS A REPUBLICAN! Seems like a LATERAL MOVE, IN CASE HELL FREEZES OVER AND “AGENT ORANGE” is thrown out on his keester! So, if you want to do and SAY ANYTHING YOU WANT TO, INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE, COMMENT ABOUT HAVING SEX WITH YOUR DAUGHTER-WIFE, ETC… there are 2 places you can get hired: FOX NEWS AND THE WHITE HOUSE!!! We’re NOT saying that what she TWEETED OR EVEN SAID IN ANY PUBLIC FORUM, IS OK… it isn’t okay!… Read more »
So Samantha Bee & the suits at TBS can call the daughter of the President of THE United States the C word…and all is right with the world. If anyone on the right EVER called any woman a C*** they would be permanently unemployable. Says a lot about our society.
I really liked the series. Bring it back. There are many, many others in TV land who said as bad or worse — just watch the View.
Bring back roseanne i loved that show and people did a lot worse besides it was just a tweet never said it on tv so bring back the roseanne show
No it should not be canceled people have said a lot worse on TV this will blow over or another cable network will pick it up people are so sensitive these days big deal
So did everyone just meet Roseanne?? All prior antics ok but not current ones…got it . Hypocrite knew exactly who they were working with.
Many years ago baseball player named Ty Cobb. One of the all-time great’s baseball players ever to play. But his racial hatred cost him a lot of problems even though he was one of the greatest athletes of his time. But we need to understand when we observe stars celebrities etc. that they do have faults. But we can’t forget that there achievements that they actually accomplish while the time they were doing with made them do bes with the town was one of the greatest baseball players ever to play. But his racial hatred cost him a lot of… Read more »