ABC cancels Roseanne revival after a racist tweet by Barr sparks outrage

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

ABC has moved to cancel its ROSANNE revival after a racist tweet by the show's star created a tidal wave of backlash on Tuesday.

"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.

After removing her initial tweet, those outraged by Barr's racism were quick to share her words in which she referred to former President Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett an offspring of the “Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes.” by saying “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” The comment was Barr's response to a tweet concerning a Wikileaks claim that the CIA during Obama's term in office spied on French presidential candidates.

Then, shortly after removing the post, Barr issued an apology for her remarks by tweeting: “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.” Barr, who has also stated that she's leaving the popular social media platform for good, has yet to post any follow-up remarks.

Not long after Barr's apology, Wanda Sykes, who is a writer and consulting producer on the revived program, announced her immediate departure from the project by tweeting:

When Twitter users called Barr out on her racist comments, the comedian fired back by saying that is was a "joke" and that "Muslims r not a race." Jarrett, the target of Barr's attack, was born in Iran to American parents. So far, Barr has not issued any comment on the cancellation of ROSEANNE.