ABC moved swiftly to cancel its hit reboot of Roseanne on Tuesday (May 29) in the wake of star Roseanne Barr’s since-deleted racist tweet about a former Obama White House adviser. And many fellow stand-ups and stars in Hollywood were even quicker to cancel Roseanne the person after the comedian once again put little daylight between the revived sitcom’s Trump-supporting matriarch and her own often stridently conservative views.
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“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey said in a statement on Tuesday after the show’s head writer and executive producer said of former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett: “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” After deleting the original tweet, Barr apologized, but the damage had already been done. “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,” she wrote. The huge outcry on social media came from the political sphere, as well as fellow comedians and actors and actresses.
Leading the charge was one of the canceled show’s producers and stars, Sara Gilbert, who called the original tweet “abhorrent,” adding that it didn’t reflect the beliefs of the cast or crew.
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
The nine-episode reboot was an out-of-the-box hit for the Disney-owned network, which renewed the show after airing just one episode. The network had ignored some of Barr’s earlier pot-stirring statements, including one just before the Jarrett tweet in which Barr — who went on a Trump-ian tirade against liberals early Tuesday — revived an easily discredited right-wing conspiracy theory that former first daughter Chelsea Clinton is married to a nephew of billionaire philanthropist and frequent target of the right George Soros.
Chelsea Soros Clinton
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
A claim quickly disputed by Clinton.
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
One of season 1’s consultants, comedian Wanda Sykes, tweeted Tuesday that she would not be returning to the series following Barr’s racist tweet, joining a growing chorus of stars who’ve written off Barr, including Mark Hamill, Debra Messing, Ike Barinholtz, Don Cheadle and Julianne Moore.
I bet FOX will pick it up & pair it with Tim Allen’s show. https://t.co/5MyZf9UT3X via @thr
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) May 29, 2018
I just heard #rosanne is cancelled. My reaction— tears. I am so relieved and grateful. The hate that has been spewing from those in Trump’s orbit has really taken a toll on all of our souls and psyches. I didn’t believe it would happen. I had lost faith. Thank you @abc .
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) May 29, 2018
I wrote on the original “Roseanne” where we used to denounce nativism, racism & homophobia. Nauseating to see what she’s become. Looking forward to continue not watching this show.
— Danny Zuker (@DannyZuker) May 29, 2018
Anyone working with or for this person needs to take a long walk today and really think about it https://t.co/A4F1LWNb1p
— Ike Barinholtz (@ikebarinholtz) May 29, 2018
Man, was the Third Reich “racially charged” or what? Amirite?
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) May 29, 2018
you can take @RoseanneOnABC out of racism but you can’t take the racism out of @therealroseanne … https://t.co/sJs7Hn5zrn
— Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) May 29, 2018
#FireRoseanne and fuck your nostalgia. Go work on Mad About You if you’re so damn nostalgic.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) May 29, 2018
You called an African American woman who’s a leader and a patriot, an ape.
Shame on anyone who still affiliates with this sad bigot. This rotten apple doesn’t fall far from the Trump tree. #FireRoseanne https://t.co/oY8eGQws4Z
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) May 29, 2018
Yes you did. #FireRoseanne https://t.co/YcxKUJxscA
— Julianne Moore (@_juliannemoore) May 29, 2018
Roseanne woke up with a million dollar job and lost it before lunchtime in LA. Life comes at you fast.
— Touré (@Toure) May 29, 2018
Reading the comments about Roseanne (it’s a lot of “Liberals say mean things all the time! Why is it different with she does it?”) it has become clear that a lot of ppl don’t know the difference between being mean and being racist.
— Ashley Nicole Black (@ashleyn1cole) May 29, 2018
Too soon for a reboot?
https://t.co/32DJaemJVr via @CNNMoney— h. jon benjamin (@HJBenjamin) May 29, 2018
Oh and make sure to let America know that emotional retribution is no longer main stream. We know where it hurts. Economic retribution is what we seek for justice. #BoycottRoseanne and its affiliates.
— Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) May 29, 2018