During an early morning Twitter rant on Tuesday, Barr called former advisor to Pres. Barack Obama Valerie Jarrett an ape. She specifically tweeted that Garrett looks like a cross between ISIS and an ape, also offending the Muslim community. Backlash over the mean words was swift. Wanda Sykes, a fellow comedian and one of the s producers quit over the insult. Her talent agency cut ties with her. Plus, three networks canceled Roseanne re-runs.
Just like that twenty years of classic American television went down the drain.
The comedian, who was once publicly shamed for flubbing the national anthem, cost an entire cast and crew their jobs. The Connor family seems divided on the issue. John Goodman, her on-screen husband Dan, said he did not want to comment because he did not want to make matters worse. He said he did not read the tweets and knew nothing about them. Actress Sarah Gilbert who played her daughter, D.J. tweeted she was disappointed.
"Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least." Sara Gilbert
Barr must have forgotten her boss, ABC Pres. Channing Dungey, is black. Dungey said in a statement that Barr's comments "are inconsistent with our values."
Roseanne apologized to "Valerie Jarett and all Americans" for the "bad joke", but it is not convincing since she has a history of dehumanizing another Obama staffer. In 2013, she said Obama’s national security advisor, Susan Rice, was “a man with big swinging ape-balls” via a tweet.
Now, Barr says, “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.”
The abrupt removal of the Roseanne from ABC's programming line up leaves a gap for fall show on the network.