Well, that didn’t work out so well. Despite the wild ratings success of the reboot of “Roseanne,” the star of the show has managed to get it canceled, shortly after it was renewed for 13 episodes this fall.
In a series of tweets late Monday/early Tuesday, Barr commented on Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, and unleashed a firestorm:
In a tweet posted on Tuesday morning, Barr said the black senior adviser to President Obama was the “baby” of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood political party and Planet of the Apes.
The tweet came in response to a conspiracy-laden thread alleging Jarrett had helped cover up CIA spying.
Soon thereafter, Wanda Sykes, a consulting producer for the show, announced she would no longer be involved:
I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC.
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 29, 2018
Roseanne’s television daughter, Darlene (Sara Gilbert) — who was instrumental in bringing about the show’s return — also weighed in:
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
Barr subsequently issued an apology for the statement re: Jarrett (and for erroneously claiming Chelsea Clinton is married to a nephew of George Soros.)
https://twitter.com/therealroseanne/status/1001471669641216005
https://twitter.com/therealroseanne/status/1001457150344945664
However, ABC has now announced the show is canceled.
“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 said in a statement.
What a wasted opportunity. The show found a way to acknowledge the highly charged political atmosphere in which we seem to operate these days without being ugly about it. In the episodes aired to date, they addressed racism, addiction, infertility, divorce, gender-fluidity, teenage rebellion, housing and care for the elderly, financial crises, and not least of all, families feuding over politics, all while reminding us to lighten up a little and love the people around us a lot.
Some will contend that ABC was too quick to pull the trigger, and will point to other “network stars” who’ve hung onto their jobs despite bad behavior — even politically incorrect comments. It’s hard to argue there isn’t a double-standard, with left-leaning stars and shows being shown a good deal more of grace than those on the right. (One could also quibble that Roseanne isn’t truly “on the right,” given her hodge-podge political views and pronouncements, but the obvious support of at least Roseanne Conner for Trump will inevitably overshadow that.) It’s also hard to defend the original tweet. And obviously, ABC didn’t relish the thought of being in that position.
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