In a statement shared earlier today, ABC president, Channing Dungey, announced that the well-rated Rosanne revival has been cancelled by the broadcasting company. This announcement came in response to a series of controversial statements shared on social media from the show’s star, Rosanne Barr.
#Roseanne Cancelled: ABC Scraps Season 11 Following Roseanne Barr’s Racist Twitter Tirade https://t.co/OlYE4FHvRD pic.twitter.com/04ilUrP72v
— TVLine.com (@TVLine) May 29, 2018
“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” Dungey’s statement shared.
Barr has become infamous for her conspiracy theories and controversial social media remarks. In the Tweets that prompted her show’s cancellation, she compared Valerie Jarrett, an Obama era White House advisor, to an ape.
“Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj [Valerie Jarrett},” Barr’s Tweet read. When she was called out for her statements being racist, she responded with another Tweet: “Muslims R NOT a race.”
Roseanne Barr dropped by ICM Partners after racist tweet https://t.co/XxTv8HgtA8 pic.twitter.com/2BjH4Z10SW
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 29, 2018
News of Barr’s Tweets spread quickly. Wanda Sykes, a producer and writer for the show, announced that she was leaving the show in response. Sara Gilbert also shared a statement.
“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,” Gilbert shared. “I am disappointed in her actions to say the least.”
Rosanne had been receiving strong ratings during its fleeting revival. It was originally scheduled to continue with an 11th season later this year.
“There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing,” Disney CEO, Robert Iger, shared in a statement.