Hollywood was quick to condemn Roseanne Barr after her racist tweet saw her show get axed yesterday.
Many celebrities called on ABC to cancel Roseanne’s recently revived sitcom after the star wrote that former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, who is African American, looked like the ‘Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby’.
Within hours, ABC did just that and announced they were cancelling the show – one of the network’s top rated series.
Actress Minnie Driver tweeted that she was ‘so proud’ of ABC for ‘having the ethical compunction to cancel Roseanne’.
Charlie Sheen and Minnie Driver joined a chorus of celebrities praising ABC for firing Roseanne over her ‘repulsive’ racist tweet
While Charlie Sheen welcomed the cancellation of Roseanne joking that it freed up space for the return of his own sitcom, Two and a Half Men.
‘Adios Roseanne! Good riddance #NOT winning,’ he tweeted. ‘The runway is now clear for OUR reboot. #CharlieHarperReturns.’
Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston thanked Disney CEO Robert Iger for deciding that ‘righteousness trumps profits’ by firing an ‘open racist and anti-Semite.’
British comedian Ricky Gervais tweeted his response to a fan who claimed that the network was attempting to ‘police speech’ by shutting down the show, and urged him to support Roseanne.
Roseanne wrote that former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, who is African American, looked like the ‘Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby’
Many were appalled by Barr’s tweet, which was in response to an article from a conspiracy website
She later attempted to back paddle on her racist tweet before announcing she was leaving Twitter
‘This wasn’t censorship’ he responded, This was business.
‘She can carry on saying what she wants its just that her employer has decided they don’t want to employ her any more. This is freedom.’
Others in the industry flooded Twitter to applaud ABC’s swift decision to cancel the show.
‘Well done,’ tweeted Goldbergs star Wendi McLendon-Covey.
‘Thank you, Channing. Thank you @ABCNetwork,’ tweeted Scandal alum Bellamy Young.
‘ABC > GOP,’ tweeted Young’s former costar Josh Malina.
Tweeted Don Cheadle: ‘You can take @RoseanneOnABC out of racism, but you can’t take the racism out of @therealroseanne …’
Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston thanked Disney CEO Robert Iger for deciding that ‘righteousness trumps profits’ by firing an ‘open racist and anti-Semite.’
Many celebs said they were ‘repulsed’ by the tweet and welcomed the news that Roseanne had been cancelled
‘Honestly she got what she deserved,’ tweeted Shonda Rhimes. ‘As I tell my 4 year old, one makes a choice with one’s actions. Roseanne made a choice. A racist one. ABC made a choice. A human one.’
Before ABC’s announcement yesterday, many celebs had demanded the network fire the controversial star.
Julianne Moore tweeted the hastag #FireRoseanne, while Zoe Saldana demanded that ABC ‘#EndRacism in #mainstream media NOW!!!’
Roseanne Barr’s ex-husband, actor Tom Arnold, even claimed that ABC executives shut down his previous attempts to alert them about his ex’s ‘dangerous tweets.’
‘ABC execs figured out a way to control me,’ he tweeted. ‘They blocked me from promoting anything on ABC because I called out Roseanne Barr & her dangerous tweets.’
Before ABC’s announcement yesterday, many celebs had demanded the network fire the controversial star
He tweeted that he had a ‘ton of respect for Bob Iger’ for making a ‘tough decision
Arnold also praised Disney CEO Bob Iger after ABC Entertainment president with financial consequences for his company, but right for America.’
One of the sole voices of support for Roseanne came from former Fox News host Eric Bolling – who left Fox last year after allegations he sent lewd messages and photos to his female colleagues – who tweeted: ‘No apology necessary at all @therealroseanne.’
He later deleted the tweet.
Even Roseanne’s costars have tweeted, revealing they supported the network’s decision.
‘I am hurt, embarrassed, and disappointed. The racist and distasteful comments from Roseanne are inexcusable,’ wrote Emma Kenney, who plays Roseanne’s granddaughter.
Even Roseanne’s costars have tweeted, revealing they supported the network’s decision
‘As I called my manager to quit working on Roseanne, I was told it was cancelled. I feel so empowered by @iamwandasykes, Channing Dungey (ABC president) and anyone at ABC standing up for morals and abuse of power. Bullies will NEVER win.’
Sara Gilbert, who played Roseanne’s daughter, added: ‘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. 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.’
Other celebs expressed their sympathy and support for Roseanne’s costars
Other celebs expressed their sympathy and support for Roseanne’s costars.
Will & Grace star Debra Messing wrote that it was ‘devastating’ that the cast and crew had lost their jobs, calling the whole incident a ‘tragedy.’
Buffy and Firefly creator Joss Whedon added that he was ‘excited for literally anything else that Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman will do now.’
Mindy Kaling, star of The Mindy Project, even offered to write a show for Metcalf, who plays Roseanne’s sister, and Goodman, who played the star’s long suffering husband.