ABC Cancels 'Roseanne' After Star's Racist Tweet
by EG
Trump supporter Roseanne Barr is taking a page from Trump's own playbook, saying that a racist tweet she sent out on Tuesday is no big deal because it was just "a joke." Critics were quick to point out that racist jokes are still racist, and they are, in fact, one of the most venerable forms of racist commentary. The controversy is yet another headache for ABC's revival of Roseanne, which had already seen backlash thanks to Barr's often incendiary and offensive behavior. The show saw its stellar debut ratings fall by nearly half by the end of its abbreviated season last week.
Roseanne Barr on Tuesday attacked former President Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarett in a since deleted tweet alleging connections to the Muslim Brotherhood that is being called racist by many.
In the tweet, the ABC star of her self-titled show attacked Jarett, connecting her to the Islamist organization Muslim Brotherhood and the movie Planet of the Apes.
"Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” Barr wrote, using Jarrett's initials while replying to a tweet which accused Jarrett of helping to cover up alleged misdeeds for the Obama administration.
When users pointed out that the tweet seemed racist, Barr replied, "Muslims r NOT a race."
Barr, an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump, later tweeted her first tweet was "a joke."
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.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
Then, not long after that tweet, Barr issued an apology post: "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."
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
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