Omari Gates
The popular American sitcom Roseanne, starring Roseanne Barr, was cancelled in 2018 after Barr posted a racist tweet. The show has not returned to TV since, despite speculation about a revival. In 2025, Barr announced she was working on a new comedy series, but it is unclear if this will air in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of return | Not returning to TV |
| Reason for no return | Lead actress Roseanne Barr's racist tweet controversy in 2018 |
| Current status of Roseanne Barr | Plotting a TV comeback with a new comedy series |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Roseanne Barr's racist tweet controversy
In 2018, Roseanne Barr, the star of the popular sitcom 'Roseanne', was fired from the show after posting a series of racist tweets. The incident, which came to be known as the "Roseanne Barr racist tweet controversy", sparked widespread backlash and led to the cancellation of the show.
The controversy began when Barr posted a tweet referring to Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to President Barack Obama, as the offspring of the "Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes." The tweet was widely condemned as racist and Islamophobic, with many interpreting it as comparing Jarrett, who is African American, to an ape. In the wake of the backlash, Barr initially apologised for the tweet, claiming that she did not know Jarrett was black and that the comment was not intended to be racial. She also blamed the sleeping pill Ambien, alcohol, and anti-depressants for the tweet.
Despite her apologies, the damage was already done. ABC, the network airing 'Roseanne', swiftly cancelled the show, and Barr's colleagues, including consulting producer Wanda Sykes, distanced themselves from her. Barr's contract with ABC was terminated, and the planned 11th season of 'Roseanne' was cancelled. The show was later revived as 'The Conners', with all original cast members except Barr, whose character was killed off.
In her first TV interview after the incident, Barr continued to apologise for the tweet, saying she wished she had worded it better. She insisted that she was not a racist and that her tweet was meant to address US-Middle Eastern policy rather than make a racial statement. She also brought up her support for President Donald Trump, stating that those who voted for him were not racist.
The Roseanne Barr racist tweet controversy highlighted the power of social media and the potential consequences of public figures' comments. It also sparked discussions about racism, Islamophobia, and the responsibility of networks and platforms to address such incidents. The incident had a significant impact on Barr's career and public image, demonstrating the severe repercussions that can result from controversial statements in the public sphere.
Australia's TV Triumph: What's Their Secret?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Conners spin-off series
The Conners is an American television sitcom created by Matt Williams as a direct continuation of the series Roseanne. The series premiered on ABC on October 16, 2018, airing in the Tuesday 8:00 p.m. slot. It is a spin-off involving the Conner family without Roseanne, after the revival of the original series was cancelled in May 2018 due to controversial tweets by its star, Roseanne Barr.
The Conners has been a strong and consistent performer for ABC, ranking as the #1 new comedy for the 2018 TV season in both the key demographic of adults 18-49 (2.2 rating) as well as in total viewers (9.5 million). The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 93% approval rating for season 1 based on 55 reviews from critics, with an average score of 7.9/10.
The show follows the Conners, a working-class family struggling to get by on modest household incomes. After the death of the original show's lead character, Roseanne, the rest of the family continues to face the daily struggles of life in the fictional mid-state exurb of Lanford, Illinois. The series features John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson, Michael Fishman, Emma Kenney, Ames McNamara, Jayden Rey, Maya Lynne Robinson, and Jay R. Ferguson.
On May 10, 2024, the series was renewed for a seventh and final season consisting of six episodes, which premiered on March 26, 2025. The series concluded with the final episode airing on April 23, 2025.
Exploring Australia's Largest Island: A Comprehensive Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
ABC's cancellation of Roseanne
The racist tweets caused widespread backlash, with Barr herself expressing regret for her comments and accepting the consequences of her actions. The show's consulting producer, Wanda Sykes, also announced that she would not be returning to the show. Following the incident, Barr kept a low profile, only recently returning to the entertainment industry with a 2023 comedy special.
The cancellation of Roseanne marked a significant moment in the show's history. The series, which originally aired on ABC from 1988 to 1997, was briefly revived in 2018 to much success. The revival's premiere garnered high ratings, leading ABC to renew the show for an 11th season. However, the renewal was short-lived due to the controversy surrounding Barr's tweets.
After the cancellation of Roseanne, ABC rebranded the show as The Conners, killing off Barr's character. The Conners has continued to honour the legacy of the original series, with some fans speculating about the potential return of Barr to the franchise. However, given the controversial nature of her departure and the family-friendly image of Disney, which owns ABC, a return seems highly unlikely.
Despite the show's cancellation, Roseanne remains available through streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla, and Pluto TV. The show has also been syndicated on various networks since its initial run, with Cozi TV premiering the show in 2020.
Understanding Australia's Cabinet: Definition and Dynamics
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Roseanne: Halloween Edition [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51VE2F81RTL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Roseanne: Season 9 [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51y9ViZ-wIL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Roseanne's return to television
In 2018, Roseanne Barr's racist tweet comparing a former Obama administration official to the Planet of the Apes caused ABC to cancel the show and fire Barr. Since then, Barr has stayed out of the public eye, only recently returning to the entertainment world for a 2023 comedy special. While the show has not been revived, one of its major characters, Crystal Anderson, reprised her role in season 6, episode 5 of the revival spin-off series The Conners, sparking speculation about Barr's potential return. However, this seems unlikely given the circumstances of her departure and the fact that her character was killed off in the Roseanne revival.
Barr herself has expressed doubts about working with ABC again, stating that she would like to get paid handsomely to bring another network back from doom as she has done twice for ABC, but she questions whether they would leave her to her own devices. She also ruled out considering ABC if they showed interest in her new project, responding with an emphatic "fuck no."
Barr is currently hosting "The Roseanne Barr Podcast" and has appeared as a guest on fellow comedians' shows. She is also plotting a TV comeback with a new comedy series about "saving America." The series, which she wrote with "Roseanne" and "Arli$$" alum Allan Stephan, will star Barr and consist of four to six episodes. It will centre on a small-town farmer in Alabama who is "saving the United States from drug gangs and China" and will contain offensive ideas and swearing.
While there is no confirmation of an official return of the show "Roseanne," its impact continues to be felt. The show was ranked #35 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time in 2002 and climbed to #32 in 2013. It also garnered numerous Emmy and Golden Globe awards and nominations during its original run.
Finding Pi in Australia: How Much Does It Cost?
You may want to see also
Roseanne's new comedy series
Roseanne Barr is plotting a TV comeback with a new comedy series about "saving America". Barr has written the series with "Roseanne" and "Arli$$" alum Allan Stephan. The series will star Barr and consist of four to six episodes, following a UK comedy format. Barr describes the series as "a cross between 'The Roseanne Show' and 'The Sopranos'". It centres on a small-town farmer in Alabama who is "saving the United States from drug gangs and China". The protagonist grows and sells drugs like cannabis and magic mushrooms. Barr says the series will contain "very offensive ideas and a lot of swearing".
Barr hasn't worked in the mainstream entertainment industry since her titular ABC show was cancelled in 2018 following a racist tweet comparing a White House aide of Muslim descent to the "Planet of the Apes" films. The new series shares DNA with her megahit series "Roseanne", which followed a working-class family and ran from 1988 to 1997. Barr says her new series will follow a family with similarities to the Conners, the clan featured in her two shows.
Barr has said she regrets the tweet, but studios with the family-friendly image of Disney do not take this kind of thing lightly. Her character was also killed off in-universe after the events of the first season of "Roseanne's" revival, making Barr's return to the show "extremely unlikely".
Barr is currently the host of "The Roseanne Barr Podcast" and has appeared as a guest on fellow comedians' shows. When asked if she would consider ABC if the network was interested, she replied with an emphatic, "Fuck no".
Medium Size in Australia: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It is unclear if and when Roseanne will be returning to TV in Australia. There were rumours of an eleventh season coming out in the summer of 2025, but these were proven to be false.
The show was cancelled in 2018 due to a racist tweet by the show's lead actress, Roseanne Barr.
Barr compared former Obama administration official, Valerie Jarrett, to the Planet of the Apes.
The show was pulled from several networks. It returned to CMT, Paramount Network, and TV Land in October 2018.
Yes, Barr has written a new comedy series with Allan Stephan, which she plans to take to market. The series will star Barr and be four to six episodes long.
