Roseanne Barr’s revived ABC sitcom has been canceled after she posted a racist tweet that attacked former Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett.
The American comedian alleged that Jarrett, who was born in Iran to American parents, has connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Sunni Islamist organization, and compared her to an ape. Barr wrote: “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” using Jarrett’s initials.
Roseanne Barr promoting her revived sitcom in New York City
Earlier this month, Roseanne walked the red carpet while attending the ABC Upfronts in New York City.
Laurie Metcalf and Roseanne Barr walk the red carpet while attending the ABC Upfronts in New York City on May 15, 2018
She was joined by fellow cast members John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and Michael Fishman. The sitcom star happily showed off her rose foot tattoo in a pair of brown sandals.
Roseanne Barr showing off a rose foot tattoo in a pair of brown sandals
The 65-year-old comedian took to Twitter on Tuesday night to send out an apology to everyone on the show who lost their jobs over her racist joke about former Obama senior advisor Valerie June Jarrett.
“Don’t feel sorry for me, guys!!-I just want to apologize to the hundreds of people, and wonderful writers (all liberal), and talented actors who lost their jobs on my show due to my stupid tweet. I will be on Joe Rogan’s podcast Friday,” Roseanne tweeted.
In addition to having her show canceled, Roseanne has also been dropped by her talent agency, ICM Partners.
“What she wrote is antithetical to our core values, both as individuals and as an agency. Consequently, we have notified her that we will not represent her,” the company said in a statement to Deadline. “Effective immediately, Roseanne Barr is no longer a client.”
Roseanne Barr’s sitcom was canceled after she wrote a racially insensitive tweet aimed at former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett
Valerie Jarrett, the subject of Roseanne Barr‘s racist tweet that led to her show being canceled, has also spoken out in response to the controversy. “I think we have to turn it into a teaching moment,” Jarrett said about the tweet.
“I’m fine. I’m worried about all the people out there who don’t have a circle of friends and followers who come right to their defense–the person who’s walking down the street minding their own business and they see somebody cling to their purse or walk across the street. Or every black parent I know who has a boy who has to sit down and have a conversation, ‘the talk’ as we call it. Those ordinary examples of racism that happen every single day.”
Credit: Patricia Schlein / WENN / FayesVision