ABC quickly canceled Roseanne just hours after Roseanne Barr’s Twitter rant that included racist tweets, tweets attacking Chelsea Clinton and more. ABC released a statement saying:
“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show.”
From Channing Dungey, President of ABC Entertainment: "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show."
There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing.— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) May 29, 2018
Why did ABC decide to cancel "Roseanne?" Per a Disney source: "It's a question of right and wrong. And it's a question of our company's values." I'm on set with @BrookeBCNN on @CNN now…
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 29, 2018
Sara Gilbert who played Darlene on Roseanne and also serves as an executive producer put out these tweets shortly before ABC announced the show had been canceled.
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
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
Many people are applauded ABC for moving quickly to cancel the show.
“It feel like we’ve been in kind of a moral free-fall for three years … this is one of the first signs that I’ve seen that [says], there is a limit,” @VanJones68 says about ABC canceling “Roseanne” after her racist tweets https://t.co/onK2YpLYgd pic.twitter.com/hdJ9HTSPqE
— CNN News Central (@NewsCentralCNN) May 29, 2018
Win-Win:
If u abhor racism, good news is, Roseanne canceled. Good for @ABCNetwork, @bensherwood & whole ABC Family.If you’re a racist, the good news is, Roseanne’s now free of corporate restraints & can remain on Twitter spewing any crazy thing she wants https://t.co/o0bAV9XWVn
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) May 29, 2018
Roseanne’s talent agency also dropped her Tuesday. Variety reports:
“ICM Partners has dropped Roseanne Barr as a client, hours after the sitcom star sent a racist tweet that spurred ABC to cancel her top-rated sitcom.
‘We are all greatly distressed by the disgraceful and unacceptable tweet from Roseanne Barr this morning,’ ICM Partners said in a statement Tuesday. ‘What she wrote is antithetical to our core values, both as individuals and as an agency. Consequently, we have notified her that we will not represent her. Effective immediately, Roseanne Barr is no longer a client.’
Barr signed with ICM last August…”
