'Roseanne' canceled following star's racist tweet toward Valerie Jarrett, sitcom star leaves Twitter
ABC has canceled "Roseanne" after she tweeted racist remarks toward Valerie Jarrett, a former White House adviser under President Barack Obama.
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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.
JUST IN: ABC Entertainment cancels Roseanne Barr's show, calling her comment on Twitter "abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values." https://t.co/aHfreKKCH3 pic.twitter.com/aSmCMK7R0R
— ABC News (@ABC) May 29, 2018
The comedian's rant began Tuesday morning when she wrote, "Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj." The tweet has since been deleted.
After several people called her remarks "racist," she dismissed the criticism by writing "ISLAM is not a RACE, lefties. Islam includes EVERY RACE of people.”
The star of ABC's "Roseanne" reboot eventually returned to social media platform to issue an apology and announce she'd be leaving Twitter.
“I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans,” she said. “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.”
I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
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
Despite her apology, several continued to express their disappointment. Wanda Sykes, who served as a consulting producer on the ABC reboot, said she would no longer work with the actress.
I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC.
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 29, 2018
RELATED: Wanda Sykes quits 'Roseanne' as producer over Roseanne Barr's racist tweet
her racist comment was childish
— ROSIE (@Rosie) May 29, 2018
and beneath her best self https://t.co/46UxuufsnE
— Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) May 29, 2018
I am repulsed that Valerie Jarret had that racist and bigoted "joke" made at her expense and I am sickened that any Black or Muslim person has to keep hearing this sickness in 2018.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) May 29, 2018
Roseanne has always been like this. Not sure how this is a surprise to anyone.
— Champion Flake (@PeaceLoveFlake) May 29, 2018
So Roseanne has a history comparing Black women to apes, eh? https://t.co/ZawUpCxgXj
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) May 29, 2018
You were wrong and you apologized because it was the right thing to do.
— Dee (@DiagnoDee) May 29, 2018
But...
We, the consumer-audience need to send a message to your employers that this awful racist behavior cannot continue at our expense. You'll do it again. You always do.#BOYCOTTabc #BoycottRoseanne
What?! Roseanne’s an irresponsible role model and a racist and probably shouldn’t have been brought back to television in the first place?! This is brand new information!!
— Ben Platt (@BenSPLATT) May 29, 2018
About the Author
Najja Parker is a multimedia journalist covering Black culture for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is an engaging on-air talent, who has served as a host for the newsroom’s special projects and events, such as the movie premiere of “The South Got Something To Say,” a documentary chronicling the rise of Atlanta hip-hop.
