ABC broadcast network did not waste any time canceling its popular comedy series Roseanne,pulling the plug on the show's second season hours after series star Roseanne Barr's racially insensitive Twitter tirade earlier this morning.
ABC Entertainment chief Channing Dungey announced in a statement Tuesday afternoon: "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show."
Barr’'s controversial Twitter remarks were directed at former President Barack Obama’s adviser Valerie Jarrett -- an African-American woman -- whom Barr referred to as the progeny of the “Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of The Apes.”
Barr, who is no stranger to Twitter controversy, pulled the Tweet and quickly apologized, adding that she was leaving Twitter.
[embed]https://twitter.com/therealroseanne/status/1001470384556752898[/embed]
But that wasn't enough for ABC, who ultimately cancelled the series. Disney chairman and CEO Robert Iger in a tweet called the move to cancel the series "the right thing" to do.
[embed]https://twitter.com/RobertIger/status/1001523982997143552[/embed]
The National Association for The Advancement Of Colored People also responded to Roseanne's cancellation, with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson saying in a statement: “Roseanne Barr’s comments were appalling and reminiscent of horrific time in our history when racism was not only acceptable but promoted by Hollywood. We applaud ABC for taking a stand against racism by canceling Roseanne today. We commend the network and its president Channing Dungey for placing the values of diversity, inclusion and respect for humanity above ratings.”
The decision comes as Roseanne – which drew a lot of viewers and media attention earlier this year – was already set to return for a second season.
Prior to Roseanne being cancelled, actress Wanda Sykes -- who had been a consultant to the show -- sent out a tweet confirming that she would not be returning to the sitcom.
[embed]https://twitter.com/iamwandasykes/status/1001494592649342979[/embed]
Series star Sara Gilbert also sent out a Tweet condemning Barr's tweet:
[embed]https://twitter.com/THEsaragilbert/status/1001513801546530816[/embed]
