VOTE: Do you agree with ABC's decision to cancel 'Roseanne' over the star's personal comments?
Social media exploded after ABC announced the successful reboot of “Roseanne” is cancelled hours after its title star, Roseanne Barr, made racist comments on Twitter.
In one of multiple Twitter apologies, which has now been deleted, Barr said she was on Ambien when she referred to Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to Barack Obama, as the offspring of “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby.”
I apologize 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.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey, the first African American executive to lead a U.S. broadcast network, said in a statement.
From Channing Dungey, President of ABC Entertainment: “Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show.”
There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing.— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) May 29, 2018
Despite Barr’s announcement that she was leaving Twitter after the incident, the sitcom star returned to retweet and respond to messages.
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
i created the platform for that inclusivity and you know https://t.co/hViHPX2ZUb. You throw me under the bus. nice!
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
no, i didnt i blamed myself. stop lying. Yes, I have had odd ambien experiences on tweeting late at night-like many other ppl do. I BLAME MYSELF OK? it’s just an explanation not an excuse, Ok, bully?
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
Wow! unreal.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
Many individuals, celebrities included, took to social media to applaud the network’s decision to cancel the show, despite it being the highest-rated and most watched new series in the 2017-18 season. Others believe that her personal comments on Twitter should not have impacted the sitcom.
Some people have also questioned if her personal beliefs should have been identified by ABC sooner, possibly stoping “Roseanne” from returning to television in the first place.
But honestly she got what she deserved. As I tell my 4 year old, one makes a choice with one’s actions. Roseanne made a choice. A racist one. ABC made a choice. A human one.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) May 29, 2018
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
Ambien doesn’t have racist side effects.
Unless you’re Roseanne, and you need a scapegoat.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) May 30, 2018
Much love @therealroseanne. We live in a country were people don’t respect our constitution. One of most essential freedoms is freedom to express ourselves even if it makes others upset. It’s beautiful to think different. Shame on the leftist media.
— Omar Navarro (@RealOmarNavarro) May 30, 2018
Are we all just pretending ABC didn’t know who Roseanne Barr was all along? Like honestly who didn’t see this coming?
— Stacey (@Stacaxox) May 30, 2018
adios
Roseanne!good
riddance.hashtag
NOT Winning.the
runway is
now clear
for
OUR reboot.©#CharlieHarperReturns pic.twitter.com/HcqMvIoxCM
— Charlie Sheen (@charliesheen) May 29, 2018
Before the controversial Jarret comment, Barr tweeted that Chelsea Clinton is married to billionaire philanthropist George Soros’ nephew. Clinton responded to Barr, saying she is in no way related to the Soros family (she is married to Marc Mezvinsky), but when Barr apologized for the mistake she called Soros “a nazi.”
Sorry to have tweeted incorrect info about you!I Please forgive me! By the way, George Soros is a nazi who turned in his fellow Jews 2 be murdered in German concentration camps & stole their wealth-were you aware of that? But, we all make mistakes, right Chelsea?
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
So what do you think should have happened to the Roseanne show? Did ABC make the right decision? Vote in the poll above and leave your thoughts in the comments below!
