ABC
Within 24 hours, Roseanne Barr went from being on top of the world to being on top of Twitter's trending topics for racist and hateful comments. After a morning of public outcries from Hollywood and beyond, ABC made the decision to pull the plug on the "Roseanne" revival, as her co-stars expressed their disappointment in the star.
"Shameless" star Emma Kenney, who just joined "Roseanne" for its revival this past season, tweeted that she was "hurt, embarrassed and disappointed," calling Barr's comments "inexcusable." And she wasn't the only one. Sara Gilbert, who spearheaded the revival and plays middle daughter Darlene, called them "abhorrent," while Michael Fishman, who plays her younger brother called Barr's words "reprehensible and intolerant." Wanda Sykes (who worked as a writer on Season 10) announced she wouldn't be back hours before ABC yanked the series altogether.
ABC
Wanda Sykes Quits 'Roseanne' as Twitter Explodes Over Roseanne Barr's Racist Tirade and Apology
View StoryI am hurt, embarrassed, and disappointed. The racist and distasteful comments from Roseanne are inexcusable.
@EmmaRoseKenney
As I called my manager to quit working on Roseanne, I was told it was cancelled. I feel so empowered by @iamwandasykes , Channing Dungey and anyone at ABC standing up for morals and abuse of power. Bullies will NEVER win.
@EmmaRoseKenney
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.
@THEsaragilbert
Sandra Bernhard, a frequent guest star dating back to the original run of the series, addressed the controversy during an appearance on Radio Andy. "I'm sitting on a little bit of an internal volcano right now," Bernhard said. "I'm trying to breathe through it and stay in that 'dedicated-to-the-one-I-love' mindset, but I gotta be honest with you, I'm kind of hitting the wall with this, kind of bummed out and I've kind of had it. I don't understand how anybody who's as smart as Roseanne is can have gone this deep over the line. I don't get it."
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Chelsea Clinton Kills Roseanne Barr's Latest Conspiracy Theory With Kindness
View StoryIn the late hours of the night on Memorial Day, Barr went on a Twitter tirade, attacking Hillary and Chelsea Clinton and spreading debunked conspiracy theories. But the comment that got the most derision, which has since been deleted, is one where Barr compared former Obama administration senior adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape.
The Twitter reaction was immediate on Tuesday morning, with the vast majority of celebrities and fans alike expressing their disgust at her racist comment, and demanding that ABC cancel the show. It took a few hours for the network to finally do just that, but ultimately the most successful revival of the reboot era has been shuttered after a single season because of the abhorrent actions of one person.
While most everyone applauded the network's calculated decision, there were others who expressed remorse for the rest of the cast and crew who'd done nothing to deserve this result. After a tremendously successful first season back on the air, "Roseanne" was renewed for an eleventh season that was set to launch in the fall. Now, the number one show on television has been cancelled.
True. I feel terrible for the crew. It's sooo hard to get a hit show. So much has to go right. Now many jobs lost. All she had to do was just not peddle racism...
@hollyrpeete
But like Maya said when someone shows you who they are believe them. The first time. #Rosanne https://t.co/GhLGTXINTK
This wasn't censorship. This was business. She hasn't been prosecuted. She hasn't been silenced. She can carry on saying what she wants. It's just that her employers have decided they don't want to employ her any more. This is freedom. https://t.co/O1VIz6bzSp
@rickygervais
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.
@shondarhimes
Aaaaannnd cue the people who just celebrated the NFL targeting player protests defending Roseanne Barr now on 1st amendment grounds. 3,2,1....popcorn.
@jfreewright
I'm glad Roseanne is canceled.
@kumailn
The backlash to its cancellation is going to be a deafening nightmare.
Nothing good has come of this entire thing.
Roseanne woke up with a million dollar job and lost it before lunchtime in LA. Life comes at you fast.
@Toure
Ton of respect for Bob Iger. Tough decision with financial consequences for his company but right for America....umm..now don't bug Bob but maybe someone else find out if I'm still banned from all of @ABCNetwork for calling Roseanne Barr out first on her racist conspiracy tweets?
@TomArnold
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 ✨
@driverminnie
When your show got canceled, but you're not racist. pic.twitter.com/Do2n37Akij
@zachbraff
Roseanne was making boatloads of $ for @DisneyABCTV. For them to cancel it because of Roseanne's racist, xenophobic rants on twitter shows a great deal of corporate responsibility & just how powerful the public's outrage can be! Keep raising your voices! https://t.co/5OJ4SZcSFi
@mishacollins
I wish some of these so-called defenders of liberty would start to understand what freedom of speech is AND isn't. Roseanne is allowed to say whatever she wants. It doesn't mean @ABCNetwork needs to continue funding her TV show if her words are considered abhorrent. https://t.co/lSx2GndLEO
@JamesGunn
Good for ABC. https://t.co/A1CHbfWfU3
@GeorgeTakei
Me hearing Roseanne news: pic.twitter.com/pdouOqDaiw
@The_A_Prentice
A) Not lost on me that I can't get a TV gig or special, despite selling out shows in major venues across the country, because of a pic with a mask and ketchup, and that Roseanne got a network show despite tweeting insane and racist conspiracy theories that she actually believed.
@kathygriffin
What just happened with Roseanne and ABC has never. happened. before. The #1 show on television was cancelled.
@jpodhoretz
It's such a delicate balance: To be *just* racist enough to cash in on the #MAGA demographic and make the network money, but not be *too* racist enough to drive away advertisers and lose the network money. https://t.co/pPT67n1wqW
@BettyBowers
"You missed all the shows about Black and Asian families again."
@the_moviebob
"Are they still just like us?"
"No - they're gonna be on the air next year."#Roseanne pic.twitter.com/pUKGLEJGyW
If you are angry and yelling "First Amendment Rights" over @therealroseanne being fired, let's discuss Colin Kapernick. I hope your anger is just as outraged over him losing his job over a quiet & non-bigoted First Adm right to protest. I am guessing, NOT!
@hmorley29
If Roseanne is truly sorry and wants to make amends, I suggest paying the salaries for every crew member who lost their job today.
@SarahWatson42
Roseanne to return next season, but sans Roseanne, and as a reboot of The Hogan Family.
@thecinemasnob
MAGAs freaking out about ABC canceling Roseanne and screaming about "free speech": ABC is a PRIVATE company, not the government. Congress is the government. If you're a vocal racist asshole & star on a tv show, you might lose your job. That's capitalism. You guys like capitalism. pic.twitter.com/ox8noGHWcU
@AuthorKimberley
Since you elevated the voice of a known bigot like #Roseanne, @ABCNetwork, when will you air “Please, Baby, Please” - the episode of @blackishabc that you shelved, censored & silenced simply because it tackled the peaceful protests of Black #NFL players? pic.twitter.com/QhmLMGO0Q2
@ColorOfChange
People coming to Roseanne's defense. pic.twitter.com/fIVndySc4i
@mskristinawong
They should just kill off Roseanne and say the first season was a dream. Call it “Everybody Loves Dan.”
@LandauDave
Imagine screaming first amendment when Roseanne gets canned then in the same breath being angry when NFL players kneel for the anthem. 😂
@OutsiderKervin
Now Roseanne's talent agency has cancelled her contract! Hear that Fox News, White House? This young lady is available!
@cowgirlup1a
Everett Collection/Getty
