source ABC
Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to President Barack Obama.
In the tweet, Barr compares Jarrett, a black woman born in Iran, to an ape.
Twitter users blasted Barr and pointed out that Barr herself said she was leaving Twitter 10 days ago because of anti-Semitism.
People are also mad at ABC, the network that airs the “Roseanne” revival.
Comedian Roseanne Barr, the star of ABC’s revival of the major ratings hit “Roseanne,” has stoked controversy for her political views and promotion of conspiracy theories. And she’s under fire again for a racist comment she made on Twitter about Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to President Barack Obama.
Ten days ago, Barr, who is Jewish, announced she was done with Twitter because of anti-Semitism, but said she would keep her account so she could check her direct messages. “i already deleted facebook five years ago when the anti semitism there became toxic,” Barr wrote on May 19. “I am leaving all social media except instagram.”
Yet on Tuesday, Barr tweeted (in response to a tweet which accused Jarrett of hiding misdeeds from the Obama administration), “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” characterizing Jarrett – an African-American woman born in Iran – as a child of the Muslim Brotherhood and an ape.
Twitter users immediately called out the racist imagery in Barr’s comment, and the irony in her decision to stop tweeting because of anti-Semitism. Some questioned ABC’s decision to keep her show on the air.
In response to criticism, Barr first defended herself, saying, “Muslims r not a race.” Later, Barr apologized, tweeting, “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.”
ABC was not immediately available for comment to Business Insider.
Here are a few reactions to Barr’s comments:
You think anti semitism is bad but racism is just fine? You're pathetic. — Sandy Rydbom (@sandyrydbom) May 29, 2018
.@ABC I guess you're fine with racist shit like this as long as the show is making money? — Charles Buchanan (@CRobertBuchanan) May 29, 2018
calling Black people apes in 2018. but she'll still have a job — Under His Eye Heaux (@kelleent) May 29, 2018
I thought you left Twitter, Rosie. You should leave again. — tommyspoon (@tommyspoon) May 29, 2018
Reporting this as hate speech. Rosamne Barr is a disgusting sociopath who spit after the National Anthem and has a history of racist and UN-American remarks. Some of us remember and are boycotting the show. — Donna Renn (@RennDonna) May 29, 2018
WASHINGTON — Roseanne Barr has apologized for targeting one of President Barack Obama’s senior advisers as the offspring of the “Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes,” as she responded to a social media conspiracy theory about President Donald Trump’s predecessor.
“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,” Barr wrote on Twitter, later adding, “I am now leaving Twitter.”
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. — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter. — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
Barr previously referred to Obama aide Valerie Jarrett as “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” She was responding to a Tweet that alleged that “Jarrett helped hide a lot.” That was a reference to a Wikileaks claim that the CIA during Obama’s term spied on candidates for the French election.
https://twitter.com/therealroseanne/status/1001353729872773121
Barr stars in the ABC revival of her sitcom, which has been renewed for another season. A spokesman for the network did not immediately return a request for comment. A spokesman for Jarrett said she had no comment.
Barr’s tweet was met with immediate condemnation despite her apology. Among those speaking out was her co-star and fellow “Roseanne” executive producer Sara Gilbert. Gilbert called Barr’s remarks “abhorrent” and said she was “disappointed in her actions to say the least.”
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 (@THEsaragilbert) May 29, 2018
Gilbert sought to distance the show from its namesake star. “Roseanne,” she asserted, remains an entity “separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member.” But the backlash was clearly growing in the hours after Barr’s tweet and apology. “Roseanne” consulting producer Wanda Sykes, who is African-American, announced via Twiter that she would not return to the show for its second season.
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. — sara gilbert (@THEsaragilbert) May 29, 2018
During Obama’s administration, Jarrett was one of the president’s closest advisers. Jarrett, an African-American, was born in Iran to American parents.
Barr responded to criticism that her tweet was racist by writing, “Muslims r not a race.”
Barr also tweeted about Chelsea Clinton, referring to her as “Chelsea Soros Clinton.” That is a reference to George Soros, the billionaire who has helped fund progressive causes. Clinton fired back with her own response, writing, “Good morning Roseanne – my given middle name is Victoria. I imagine George Soros’s nephews are lovely people. I’m just not married to one. I am grateful for the important work @ OpenSociety does in the world. Have a great day!”
Good morning Roseanne – my given middle name is Victoria. I imagine George Soros’s nephews are lovely people. I’m just not married to one. I am grateful for the important work @OpenSociety does in the world. Have a great day! https://t.co/mXokiTEwN7 — Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) May 29, 2018
Barr’s apology did not stop calls for ABC to respond.
Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” wrote, “Hey @ ABC, Roseanne Barr compared Valerie Jarrett to an ape. There is no apology she can make that justifies @ ABC turning a blind eye to this bigotry by airing another second of her show. Even in the Age of Trump, there are red lines that can never be crossed. This is one.”
Hey @ABC, Roseanne Barr compared Valerie Jarrett to an ape. There is no apology she can make that justifies @ABC turning a blind eye to this bigotry by airing another second of her show.
Even in the Age of Trump, there are red lines that can never be crossed. This is one. — Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) May 29, 2018
Tim Miller, spokesman for Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign, wrote, “It’s weird how Real American Anti-PC Warriors who are shining a light on out of touch elites keep calling black people apes.”
It’s weird how Real American Anti-PC Warriors who are shining a light on out of touch elites keep calling black people apes. — Tim Miller (@Timodc) May 29, 2018
Others pointed to the way that Walt Disney Co.-unit ESPN responded to the controversy over Jemele Hill, who was suspended for a series of tweets in which she called President Trump a white supremacist and later suggested a boycott of advertisers of the Dallas Cowboys.
She responded on Twitter on Tuesday, “Please God let me mind my business today.”
.@ValerieJarrett responds to Roseanne Barr's tweet, saying Disney’s chairman called her before announcing that ABC was canceling the show: "This should be a teaching moment.” #EverydayRacism pic.twitter.com/b0EvA8WAeY — MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 29, 2018
Hours after Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet calling Obama administration adviser Valerie Jarrett a product of the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes, ABC canceled the comedian’s show. Just hours after the controversy, Jarrett was due on MSNBC’s “Everyday Racism” town hall. During the event, Jarrett had an opportunity to respond to the day’s news. “I think we have to turn it into a teaching moment,” she said. “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.” In the statement announcing the show’s cancellation, president of ABC Entertainment Channing Dungey said, “Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show.” Comedian Wanda Sykes, a consulting producer on the series, exited the show earlier in the day after Barr’s tweet.
