“Roseanne” Child Star Michael Fishman Slams Idea That the Show’s Revival Was Unjustly Canceled: ‘Words Have Consequences’
Yahoo • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Michael Fishman, known for playing DJ Conner on Roseanne, addressed the controversy surrounding Roseanne Barr's 2018 firing due to her racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett, condemning the comments while expressing personal love and compassion for Barr.
- Fishman criticized attempts to justify Barr's remarks as jokes or political statements, emphasizing that her comments were "indefensible" and caused real-world harm by perpetuating racial dehumanization.
- He highlighted the responsibility that comes with freedom of speech, stating that while comedians can tackle dark topics, Barr's tweet was not a joke and led to legitimate consequences, including the cancellation of the Roseanne reboot.
- Despite condemning the tweet, Fishman expressed ongoing support for Barr as a person, acknowledging that good people can make mistakes but stressing the importance of accountability.
- Following Barr's firing, ABC canceled Roseanne and launched a spinoff, The Conners, which aired from 2018 to 2025 without Barr's character, who was written off due to an opioid overdose.
