Roseanne Star Michael Fishman Defends Show Cancellation Over Racism Scandal
- Former "Roseanne" star Michael Fishman has broken his silence on the sitcom's sudden cancellation, calling the network's decision rightful while sharply criticizing fans who continue to complain about...
- Fishman addressed the consequences of the May 2018 axing during recent interviews.
- His remarks coincided with ABC's preparation to launch a spin-off titled "The Conners" without Barr, retaining the rest of the original cast for a fall debut.
Michael Fishman Defends Abrupt Axing of “Roseanne”
Former “Roseanne” star Michael Fishman has broken his silence on the sitcom’s sudden cancellation, calling the network’s decision rightful while sharply criticizing fans who continue to complain about the fallout.
Fishman addressed the consequences of the May 2018 axing during recent interviews. The high-profile termination followed a racist tweet posted by the show’s lead comedian, Roseanne Barr.
His remarks coincided with ABC’s preparation to launch a spin-off titled “The Conners” without Barr, retaining the rest of the original cast for a fall debut.
Slamming Ongoing Fan Backlash
Fishman did not mince words when discussing viewers who still voice frustration over the loss of the revival.
He labeled ongoing fan complaints as ignorant and inaccurate. Furthermore, he slammed those continuing to dispute the network’s judgment.
The May 2018 Tweet and Immediate Fallout
The controversy erupted when Barr posted a now-deleted tweet comparing former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, who is African-American, to a product of the Muslim Brotherhood and “Planet of the Apes.”
In the wake of the backlash, Barr participated in a 35-minute interview with her friend Rabbi Shmuley Boteach broadcast on SoundCloud. Breaking down in tears, she stated she had made herself a hate magnet.
Barr claimed during the broadcast that she did not realize Jarrett was Black, stating she thought Jarrett was white, though she conceded that ignorance was no excuse.
“I Lost Everything,” Barr Admits in Tearful Interview
“I horribly regret it. Are you kidding? I lost everything, and I regretted it before I lost everything,” Barr said during the interview.
“And I said to God, ‘I am willing to accept whatever consequences this brings because I know I’ve done wrong. I’m going to accept what the consequences are,’ and I do, and I have.”
Barr also revealed that ABC asked her to leave Twitter as a condition for continuing the show—a request she refused. She attributed part of her impaired judgment to sleep medication Ambien, while repeatedly insisting she would never knowingly use monkey comparisons to describe a Black person. Despite feeling misunderstood, Barr acknowledged the hurt caused by her actions and emphasized that genuine remorse requires active steps to correct wrongdoing.