Roseanne Barr stirred up a storm on Tuesday with a now-deleted tweet targeting former White House advisor Valerie Jarrett, suggesting ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and making a racially charged reference to the movie “Planet of the Apes.”
The tweet, which many have condemned as racist, was aimed at linking Jarrett to the Islamist group and the film.
In response to criticisms labeling the tweet as racist, Barr defended herself by stating that her comment was not directed toward any specific race but rather a political group.
However, following the backlash, she admitted that her initial post was meant as a joke.
Shortly after, Barr issued an apology to Jarrett and the American public, expressing regret for her inappropriate comments on both Jarrett’s politics and appearance.
She acknowledged that her attempt at humor was in poor taste and announced her decision to leave Twitter.
The controversial tweet sparked an outcry from various celebrities and politicians who called for swift action from ABC, the network airing Barr’s show.
Rev.
Al Sharpton, Patricia Arquette, Joe Scarborough, and Billy Eichner were among those condemning Barr’s remarks and urging ABC to take a stand against bigotry.
As a result of the escalating controversy, Wanda Sykes, a writer and consulting producer for the show, declared that she would not be returning for the upcoming season.
Subsequently, ABC made the decision to cancel the show entirely, citing the inappropriate nature of Barr’s comments.
Sara Gilbert, a cast member of the show, expressed disappointment in Barr’s behavior, emphasizing that her views did not align with those of the cast and crew.
Gilbert highlighted the show’s separate identity from the actions of one individual associated with it.
Fellow cast members, including Emma Kenney and Michael Fishman, also voiced their dismay over the situation.
Kenney announced her decision to quit working on the show in light of the offensive remarks, while Fishman described the day of the show’s cancellation as one of the most challenging in his life.
Amidst the fallout, Barr’s ex-husband and former co-star, Tom Arnold, commended ABC’s choice to cancel the show, acknowledging the tough decision made in the face of financial implications.
The news surrounding the show’s cancellation quickly dominated online conversations, becoming a top trending topic on Twitter.
Requests for comments from ABC regarding the incident and subsequent show cancellation have yet to receive a response, leaving the future of the production uncertain in the wake of the controversy.
