Roseanne Barr, the controversial comedian and actress, has recently made headlines by accusing ABC and its parent company, Disney, of espionage and political bias that led to her firing. Barr's allegations surfaced in a detailed interview with the Daily Mail, where she reflected on the events that unfolded around her abrupt departure from the television industry.
The original "Roseanne" sitcom, which premiered in 1988, was known for its representation of working-class America. Starring alongside John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and Johnny Galecki, Barr's show won critical acclaim for its humor and honest portrayal of a blue-collar family. Following the end of its initial run in the late 1990s, ABC revived the series in 2018. However, the network canceled the reboot after Barr posted a controversial tweet that was widely condemned as racist.
In the tweet, Barr compared former President Barack Obama's senior adviser Valerie Jarrett to a cross between the "Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes." ABC responded swiftly, canceling "Roseanne" and deeming Barr's comment "abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values." A spinoff, "The Conners," was subsequently launched, and Barr's character was killed off.
Barr, now 72, claims that ABC was searching for reasons to remove her long before the infamous tweet due to her public support for then-President Donald Trump. "They were waiting for me to slip up," Barr stated, indicating that her conservative views were out of step with the entertainment industry. She accused ABC of intensive surveillance and censorship attempts from the onset of the show's return.
Defending her tweet, Barr insists that she was unaware of Jarrett's racial background and that her comment was a political jab regarding the Iranian nuclear deal, not a racial slur. She attributed the late-night tweet to "Ambien tweeting," as she was under the influence of the prescription medication.
Barr's story highlights the tension between individual expression and corporate media values. She claims her humor was politically charged and not racist, suggesting that her words were twisted by liberal Hollywood. The actress also expressed regret over her initial apology, criticizing the political left for what she views as relentless persecution following such admissions.
The allegations have sparked discussions about the balance of power in the entertainment industry and the role of personal politics in professional settings. Whether ABC's actions were precautionary or oppressive remains a subject of debate, but Barr's claims have certainly reignited conversations about freedom of speech and the political dynamics within Hollywood.
