‘Roseanne’ axed over tweet
Network pulls the plug on hit sitcom in response to star’s racist remark
LOS ANGELES: US television network ABC has cancelled the hit working-class comedy Roseanne, after its star Roseanne Barr (pic) aimed a racist tweet at a former adviser to Barack Obama.
The 65-year-old sitcom actress – a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump who has used Twitter to voice far-right and conspiracy theorist views – took aim at the aide, Valerie Jarrett, in a post that read: “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby = VJ.”
After a barrage of criticism on social media, Barr apologised to Jarrett, who is mixed race, and to “all Americans” for what she called a “joke”.
“I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and looks. I should have known better. Forgive me – my joke was in bad taste,” she tweeted. “I apologise. I am now leaving Twitter.”
But her belated mea culpa was not enough for ABC, which said on Tuesday that it was pulling the plug on Barr’s show over the “abhorrent, repugnant” tweet, which was “inconsistent with our values”.
Likewise, Barr’s talent agency ICM said its teams were “greatly distressed by the disgraceful and unacceptable tweet”.
“Consequently, we have notified her that we will no longer represent her,” the agency said.
Roseanne was rebooted in March after a gap of 21 years, with Barr’s character recast as a Trump supporter.
The show had been renewed for an 11th season after scoring huge ratings and positive reviews for its Season 10 opener, including from the President.
Reacting to the network’s decision, Jarrett herself said she hoped it would trigger a broader discussion on racism in America.
“We have to t turn this into a teaching momen nt,” she said on MSNBC.
Barr’s various c controversies over the years have inc cluded a 2009 photoshoot for satiric cal Jewish magazine Heeb, in whic ch she dressed up as Hitler baking g gingerbread cookies. She is Jewish.
In March, Barr t tweeted out a conspiracy theory falsely accusing David Hogg, a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting i in Florida, of giving a Nazi s salute at a march.
The backlash to o her latest tweet was swif ft, with public figures from actors Rosie O’Donnell and Don Cheadle to CNN analyst April Ryan calling out Barr.