ABC has cancelled ratings juggernaut, “Roseanne,” after star Roseanne Barr mocked a former Obama aide on Twitter–and now, shares are plummeting.
Shares of parent company Disney dropped 2.4 percent following the news that they cancelled their biggest show. The revived “Roseanne” averaged 18 million viewers per episode—something virtually unheard of in today’s crowded TV market–and was the most popular show of 2018 thus far.
The controversy began when Barr tweeted that Obama aide Valerie Jarrett, who is black, was a cross between the “Muslim Brotherhood” and “Planet of the Apes.”
ABC issued a statement calling the tweet “abhorrent” and “repugnant,” before announcing they would not renew the show for a second season.
Barr defended herself, writing on Twitter, “It was 2 in the morning and I was Ambien tweeting,” but she made sure to take full responsibility: “It was Memorial Day too. I went too far and do not want it defended. It was egregious, indefensible.”
Barr also apologized to Jarrett.
I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
She also issued a statement to the cast and crew of her hit show, “Today my words caused hundreds of hardworking people to lose their jobs. I sincerely apologise to the audience that has embraced my work for decades.”
Even though ABC has cancelled the show, there’s still a chance the show could be given a new season by another network.
