And just when you thought things couldn’t get crazier for Roseanne Barr…
After yesterday’s drama that included a racist tweet, an apology, a vow to leave Twitter, and an unceremonious cancelation by ABC, Roseanne Barr was back at it again last night. While she didn’t necessarily tweet anything overtly racist, the actress/comedian did continue to push forward her conspiracy theories. Oh, and in a moment of apparent lucidity, Barr actually tweeted something resembling an apology.
In a now-deleted tweet (with grammatical and spelling errors intact), Barr appeared apologetic, saying, “guys I did something unforgiveable so do not defend me. It was 2 in the morning and I was ambien tweeting-it was memorial day too-i went 2 far & do not want it defended-it was egregious Indefensible,” she said. “I made a mistake I wish I hadn’t but…don’t defend it please. ty”
READ MORE: ABC’s ‘Roseanne’ Canceled After Racist Tweet By Star Roseanne Barr
However, any goodwill that was gained from that tweet was soon destroyed when Barr deleted it and continued her conspiracy theory-laden political tirades, as well as retweeting fans defending her. She eventually moved on to publicly trash her former “Roseanne” co-stars.
The first co-star to feel the wrath of Roseanne was Michael Fishman, who played her son DJ on the series. Fishman wrote a very eloquent, heartfelt message about yesterday’s drama. He concluded, “My character was designed to represent the inclusive nature of my views. To represent portions of society often marginalized. In this moment it is important to be clear. We must stand-up against; bias, hatred, bigotry and ignorance to make society a better place for all.”
“i created the platform for that inclusivity and you know it.ME . You throw me under the bus. nice!” tweeted Barr, in response.
i created the platform for that inclusivity and you know https://t.co/hViHPX2ZUb. You throw me under the bus. nice!
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
But Fishman wasn’t the only former cast member to get called out by Barr. After yesterday’s tweet from Sara Gilbert saying that the actress is “disappointed in [Barr’s] actions to say the least,” Barr decided to reply to Gilbert’s tweet with a simple reply, “Wow! unreal.”
Wow! unreal.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
One of the oft-overlooked aspects of a show’s cancelation is the rippling effect it has on the remaining crew. As much as people might cheer ABC’s actions against “Roseanne,” there are hundreds that worked on the show that found out yesterday that they’re out of a job. One of those people is writer and executive producer, Dave Caplan.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the writer detailed what his day was like yesterday and how he feels about the abrupt cancelation. “The day began by reading her tweet and I was immediately horrified. I really wasn’t sure what to do because I didn’t feel like there was really any response to it. It was so far over the line and so loathsome that I suspected there might not be any coming back from it,” said the writer.
“It was the first day for the writing staff of the next 13 shows…We hadn’t found out that ABC had canceled the show yet, but we also knew that none of us were in the frame of mind to start writing the show under the circumstances. We got together as a group for the first time and there was a lot of bittersweet hellos — and a couple hours later, a lot of very difficult goodbyes,” continued Caplan.
The writer also says that he’s unsure about severance packages or pay for the crew.
On a lighter note, the manufacturers of Ambien released a statement yesterday about the comedian blaming their sleep drug for her racist tweets. Needless to say, they want everyone to know that Ambien does not lead to racism. “People of all races, religions, and nationalities work at Sanofi every day to improve the lives of people around the world,” the pharmaceutical company said in a statement to The Wrap. While all pharmaceutical treatments have side effects, racism is not a known side effect of any Sanofi medication.”
As news spread yesterday about the racist tweet, Roseanne’s apology, the cancelation, the Ambien mess, and all the other drama, many actors and other Hollywood figures reacted:
Shame on you @therealroseanne and @ABCNetwork @RoseanneOnABC Not a single apology can get me to respect your despicable racist character. #EndRacism in #mainstream media NOW!!!
— Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) May 29, 2018
Thank you @iamwandasykes . She is a fascist. What she said about @ValerieJarrett is unconscionable. https://t.co/B6ewu9AVGu
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) May 29, 2018
A big thanks to everyone who brought Roseanne back into our lives.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) May 29, 2018
Who could've possibly known Roseanne would be racist online, you know, except literally any person who's been online in the last 10 years?
— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) May 29, 2018
i love roseanne quite a bit
the comment roseanne tweeted was racist and childish
and beneath her best self
she has apologizedtwitter is a dangerous place
— ROSIE (@Rosie) May 29, 2018
But honestly she got what she deserved. As I tell my 4 year old, one makes a choice with one’s actions. Roseanne made a choice. A racist one. ABC made a choice. A human one.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) May 29, 2018
For the record, this is Channing Dungey. Sitting on top of your world like a Queen in full judgement of your garbage and taking it out. #Roseanne pic.twitter.com/GxEP2B61uq
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 29, 2018
So @therealroseanne woke up this morning & posted hateful, slanderous tweets about me, Valerie Jarrett, George Soros & Chelsea Clinton — and ABC fired her. If only NBC had fired Trump when he started his racist birther movement in 2011, he wouldn’t be in the White House today.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) May 30, 2018
I bet FOX will pick it up & pair it with Tim Allen's show. https://t.co/5MyZf9UT3X via @thr
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) May 29, 2018