- Culture
- 30 May 18
ABC has cancelled Roseanne Barr’s reboot of her hugely popular TV sitcom after she outrageously described one of Barack Obama's aides, Valerie Jarrett as looking like the offspring of "the Muslim brotherhood and planet of the apes".
The racist comment was described by ABC network as "abhorrent, repugnant, and inconsistent with our values".
President of ABC Entertainment, Channing Dungey announced, "We have decided to cancel her show."
Disney owns ABC Television Group. Their CEO Bob Iger stated: "There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing."
Please don't start all of that boycott abc stuff-I'm not a censor and they have the right to do what they wish. It' all ok. thanks tho guys!
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
The show originally ran from 1987 to 1997. It was a huge success on its return to the screens earlier this year, enjoying massive ratings.
In it, Roseanne Barr, who was once interviewed in-depth by Hot Press, plays a working-class Donald Trump supporter. The US President naturally loved the show and tweeted enthusiastically about it.
viacom pulled all the old Roseanne shows too.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
Last night Roseanne Barr apologized for her racist comments. Taking to Twitter, she said: “I apologise to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans."
She also wrote: “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 also asked her fans not to try to defend her. She also attempted to blame sleeping pills for her racist rant.
She said: "Guys, I did something unforgiveable so do not defend me. It was 2 in the morning and I was ambien tweeting-it was memorial day too-i went 2 far & do not want it defended-it was egregious Indefensible. I made a mistake I wish I hadn't but...don't defend it please."
Roseanne Barr also announced that she was quitting the social media platform.
“I apologise. I am now leaving Twitter,” the actress said.
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I'm sorry 4 my tweet, AND I will also defend myself as well as talk to my followers. so, go away if u don't like it. I will handle my sadness the way I want to. I'm tired of being attacked & belittled more than other comedians who have said worse.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
guys I did something unforgiveable so do not defend me. It was 2 in the morning and I was ambien tweeting-it was memorial day too-i went 2 far & do not want it defended-it was egregious Indefensible. I made a mistake I wish I hadn't but...don't defend it please. ty
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
hey guys, don't defend me, it's sweet of you 2 try, but...losing my show is 0 compared 2 being labelled a racist over one tweet-that I regret even more.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
Here's @therealroseanne's apology. pic.twitter.com/YWZ6i6WWq7
— Kate Aurthur (@KateAurthur) May 30, 2018