'Roseanne' star defends sitcom' axing over comedian's tweets
Page Six • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Michael Fishman, who played DJ Conner on "Roseanne," expressed frustration over ongoing defenses of Roseanne Barr's controversial tweets that led to the 2018 reboot's cancellation, emphasizing that the show was rightfully ended due to the harm caused by her remarks.
- Fishman criticized attempts to justify Barr's racist comments as political or comedic, highlighting the real-world consequences of dehumanizing language and the importance of accountability.
- Despite condemning the tweets, Fishman conveyed compassion for Barr, acknowledging that good people can make mistakes but stressing that there was no joke in her offensive statements.
- He urged defenders of racist rhetoric to refrain from spreading harmful language, underscoring that freedom of speech carries responsibility and that words can lead to real suffering and injustice.
- Roseanne Barr has apologized multiple times, maintaining that her tweets were politically motivated rather than racist, but the controversy resulted in the reboot's cancellation and the launch of "The Conners" without her involvement.
