ABC said it’s canceling its “Roseanne” revival after Roseanne Barr’s tweet, despite its status as a ratings juggernaut.
“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 on Tuesday.
Barr attacked Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to former President Barack Obama, in a tweet in which she said, “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” Many derided the comment as racist.
Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger partially explained his reason for canceling “Roseanne.”
Showrunner Bruce Helford also issued a statement: “On behalf of all the writers and producers, we worked incredibly hard to create an amazing show. I was personally horrified and saddened by the comments and in no way do they reflect the values of the people who worked so hard to make this the iconic show that it is,” the Hollywood Reporter said.
“Roseanne” finished as TV’s No. 1 scripted series on all of TV, averaging a 5.5 rating among adults 18-49 and 19.3 million viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Sara Gilbert, a star on “Roseanne,” also slammed the actress. “This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us, as we’ve created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love—one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member,” she wrote on Twitter.
Jarett, who is African-American, served as the senior adviser to the president of the United States under the Obama administration.
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