TV

‘Roseanne’ Has Been Cancelled After Roseanne Barr’s Racist Twitter Rant

You just can't say that.

by Tom Clift  30 May 2018
Roseanne Barr

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In a rare case of the entertainment industry doing what’s right instead of what’s profitable, American network ABC has cancelled its hit reboot of classic sitcom Roseanne after the show’s creator and star, Roseanne Barr, posted a horrific racial slur on social media.

In a now-deleted tweet, Barr compared Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to President Barack Obama, to an ape, writing that Jarrett was the result of the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes having a baby. She also tweeted that former first daughter Chelsea Clinton is married to the nephew of billionaire George Soros, before claiming that Soros is a Nazi.

Soros is a frequent target of anti-semitic attacks, and Jarrett is African American.

In response, ABC announced it was pulling the plug on Roseanne, despite it being one of the network’s top rated shows.

“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” said ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey.

The series has also been dropped by its Australian broadcaster Network Ten, effective immediately.

For what it’s worth, this isn’t the first time that the Trump-supporting actress has shared bizarre right-wing conspiracy theories on social media. Following the outrage over her recent comments, she announced she was leaving Twitter, although we’ll see how long that lasts.

A number of Barr’s co-stars have since taken to social media to distance themselves from her remarks.

Various other celebrities have applauded ABC’s decision.