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Roseanne Barr's Racist Tweet Triggers ABC's Abrupt Cancellation of Her Hit Reboot
May 29, 2018  | By Ed Bark  | 2 comments
 

In a jarring development, ABC has canceled Roseanne after the star of the show, Roseanne Barr, authored a since deleted tweet disparaging Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to President Barack Obama.
 
“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with your values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” ABC entertainment president Channing Dungey (right)  said in a statement issued early Tuesday afternoon.

Barr, well-accomplished at being her own worst enemy, fired off a Memorial Day morning tweet that said, “Muslin brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” This came in response to an online allegation that Obama had spied on French presidential candidates, with Jarrett helping him to “hide a lot.”

Barr, whose Roseanne reboot had been a breakout hit for ABC after launching in midseason, later tried to make amends.

“I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans,” she tweeted. “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.” Barr also said she is “now leaving Twitter.”

Both Jarrett and Dungey are African-American, with Dungey being the first woman of color ever to head a broadcast network entertainment division.

Roseanne had been set to return next fall in the same Tuesday 7 p.m. (central) slot it occupied this season. Before ABC axed her show, consulting producer Wanda Sykes said she would not be returning to Roseanne following Barr’s latest outburst.

Sara Gilbert, who plays Roseanne and Dan Conner’s daughter, Darlene, and has been a co-executive producer of the reboot, tweeted that Barr’s comments about Jarrett are “abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show.” Gilbert also said, “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.”

Barr is an outspoken supporter of President Trump, both in real-life and on her show. In times of reboot mania on the part of broadcast networks and the streaming service Netflix, Roseanne by far had been the most successful second coming.

On the original Roseanne, Barr became known for creating extreme divisiveness on the set with her demands and demeanor. The show left ABC in May 1997 after nine seasons.
 
 
 
 
 
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2 Comments
 
 
Mac
POTUS tweets about "Bob Iger of ABC"(actually Iger is the CEO of Disney,ABC's parent):"never called...to apologize about the HORRIBLE(Trump's caps) statements made and said about me on ABC." So Trump doesn't know the difference between a good 'ol insult joke and a racial insult. And he finds a way,again,to put himself in the center of the foray. WHPS Huckabee said Tues. POTUS is focused on "bigger things" surrounding his agenda. Evidently,till he isn't. This after wishing the country a "Happy Memorial Day", on Monday,the day to remember who died serving the armed forces. What could be happier? I was surprised Trump's tweet didn't have a Happy Meal coupon at the end. You know,'cause that might be a "happy" way to think about fallen heroes.
This is an example of an "insult joke".
May 30, 2018   |  Reply
 
 
R. Dunn
I always thought that Valerie Jarrett looked like a Romulan...(the really evil & sneaky aliens on Star Trek)
May 30, 2018   |  Reply
 
Mac
...and the above is an example of a "racial insult". Comparing the looks of a black woman to the looks of a fictitious enemy race,complete with pointy ears and scary eyebrows. Throw in the "evil & sneaky" insult,well, because she must be evil & sneaky. And alien,meaning she is not from this world. Hat trick racial insult! Kudos! She did lots of that advisin' stuff for Obama. Hired that Michelle person way back. You know,Michelle,the one always showin' off those nekkid arms. Fun fact:Valerie Jarrett's kid works for Fake CNN. Also a Harvard Law grad. Must be eviler,sneakier and alienater than Momma. Who will Ridley Scott hire for the movies? And will the Obamas produce it for Netflix? Making fictitious evil,sneaky, alien worlds great again.
May 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
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