Fans are torn over 'Roseanne's' pro-Trump stance
Tonight is the big night America has been waiting for! After 21 years, Roseanne is returning to the small screen — and in a way, we can all thank President Donald Trump for the reboot.
Roseanne Barr has been a fixture in pop culture for decades, but has largely stayed out of the spotlight since Roseanne ended its nine-season run in in 1997. That all changed during the 2016 presidential election, when Barr came out in support of presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“I think we would be so lucky if Trump won,” she told the Hollywood Reporter several months before the election. “Because then it wouldn’t be Hillary.”
Since those initial viral comments, Barr has gone on to praise and defend Trump continuously, including this week, while promoting the upcoming Roseanne premiere with John Goodman on Jimmy Kimmel Live. After arguing with Kimmel about the president’s controversial administration, Barr said, “No matter who we voted for, we don’t want to see our president fail.”
Considering Barr’s personal political beliefs, there was little surprise when news broke that some of the iconic Conner family on the show will be portrayed as Trump supporters. “It’s just realistic,” the 65-year-old actress said during the Television Critics Association press tour in January. “It was working-class people who elected Trump.”
Pew Research from the 2016 presidential election suggests that Barr is correct and that Trump was victorious over Hillary Clinton among America’s middle class, specifically with white working-class voters, the Conner family’s demographic.
Many fans are torn. Some are delighted to see their beliefs in a prime-time television series; others are put off by the politics.
Rosanne is a #trumpian. She is one of us. Lets watch her show and send the left a message. https://t.co/gxxA59cWM5
— nilconway (@nilconway) March 16, 2018
I’m kinda torn. Rosanne used to be my absolute favorite tv show. But…Rosanne Barr is a Trump supporter and I just can’t fuck with that. But I really love the Rosanne show. Smdh.
— Wanheda Stormborn (@HarloHaven) March 18, 2018
So excited to watch @therealroseanne show tonight! Even more excited they are pro Trump on it! #MAGA #Rosanne #Trump #TuesdayThoughts
— Jessa Smith (@TBUSA2016) March 27, 2018
OK, I can't stand Trump (look at my Twitter feed for proof), but to boycott a show because Rosanne Barr is a Trump supporter and wrote into the storyline that her character is too, whats the big deal? Original Rosanne was hilarious and I still plan on watching, I can get past it.
— Milton “Swingline” Waddams (@InstigatorRules) March 27, 2018
Rosanne is a far right extememist. I urge the public to boycott her show. https://t.co/4awUO6IQmu
— #Trumpillegitimate# (@noudidnot) March 27, 2018
I’m excited to see the new #Rosanne show, but she’s a Trump supporter so I’m disappointed! Ugh…
— Erika (@EbonyBodyWorks) March 27, 2018
Can't wait for Rosanne to come back and start normalizing Trump.
— D C W (@dcwilson303) March 27, 2018
Rosanne Barr is a MAJOR TRUMP SUPPORTER… so yes, I'll watch!
— Apollumi (@touparish) March 27, 2018
The ratings will soon tell what fans really think of the show, although Yahoo’s own Ken Tucker found the Roseanne reboot funny, notwithstanding its pro-Trump platform. One person who’s hoping the revival goes well is the star herself. “We all want to definitely [do more seasons],” Barr said at a Paley Center panel in New York this week. “We had such a blast. And it was just so fun to be together again.”
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