The reboot of Roseanne had proven to be a huge success, pulling in 18 million viewers per episode, breaking records and being renewed for a second season after just one episode - but its success is irrelevant as the show has been cancelled due to its star's controversial comments.
Roseanne Barr has never been one for diplomacy or political correctness, but her tweets yesterday - regarding Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to Barack Obama - have had repercussions.
Barr's distasteful tweet suggested that Jarret, who is black, was a product of the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes. "Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” she tweeted, later denying that she was racist because "Muslims r NOT a race."
However, Barr deleted the tweet and later apologised, saying "I apologise 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. I apologise. I am now leaving Twitter."
However, she remains on Twitter and has been tweeting fans throughout the night, blaming sleeping pill Ambien for her outburst:
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
Don't feel sorry for me, guys!!-I just want to apologize to the hundreds of people,and wonderful writers (all liberal) and talented actors who lost their jobs on my show due to my stupid tweet. I will be on Joe Rogan's podcast friday.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
ABC subsequently cancelled the show amid an outcry condemning Barr's comments, with president Channing Dungey saying that her views are "abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel the show."
Here's how Hollywood, her co-stars and fans reacted:
Hey @ABC, Roseanne Barr compared Valerie Jarrett to an ape. There is no apology she can make that justifies @ABC turning a blind eye to this bigotry by airing another second of her show.
Even in the Age of Trump, there are red lines that can never be crossed. This is one.— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) May 29, 2018
Roseanne has made her fortune off the backs of the working class with mean spirited vulgarity. Thank God they cancelled her trash. Feel bad for all the other actors and crew who lost their jobs too. https://t.co/SrhV6HnSym
— Kevin Conroy (@RealKevinConroy) May 29, 2018
So proud of @ABCNetwork for having the ethical compunction to cancel #Rosanne despite the show’s huge numbers. We too make a show about a middle class family , come and watch us instead #speechless @Speechless_ABC ✨
— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) May 29, 2018
The terrible part is all of the talented innocent people who worked on that show now suffer because of this. #notjustice
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) 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
. @THEsaragilbert is an incredibly loving, kind, smart, thoughtful, hardworking person with not one bigoted bone in her body. The fact that Roseanne’s reprehensible actions have blown back on the smart, hardworking cast and crew of the show is a real disappointment.
— Aisha Tyler (@aishatyler) May 29, 2018
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
Not my cup of tea, but Roseanne had a great thing going with her show.
All she had to do was not say something colossally stupid.
That was too tall an order.
— andy lassner (@andylassner) May 29, 2018
my friends would tell you that one of my favorite questions to ask in life is "what did you think was going to happen?" so here I am pondering what multi million-dollar-earning TV executives thought was going to happen when they hired Roseanne.
— Flavia Dzodan (@redlightvoices) May 30, 2018
