Sara Gilbert Addresses Roseanne Cancellation

Sara Gilbert is speaking out about the cancellation of the Roseanne reboot following co-star Roseanne Barr's recent racist tweets.

On Monday, June 4, 2018, Gilbert discussed the cancellation of her ABC show with her co-hosts on The Talk. "I would like to say this has been a very difficult week," she began. "A lot of people have been hurt by this." An obviously emotional Gilbert continued, "I will say that I'm proud of the show we made. The show has always been about diversity, love, and inclusion. And it's sad to see it end in this way."

Gilbert, who played Darlene Conner on the series, added, "I'm sad for the people who lost their jobs in the process. However, I do stand behind the decision that ABC made."

As Nicki Swift previously reported, ABC canceled Roseanne after Barr tweeted out a message comparing Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to President Barack Obama, to a cross between the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes. Though Barr later apologized, she also attempted to defend her behavior by sharing that she'd been late-night tweeting while on Ambien. It's worth noting that she'd also been called out for racism in the past. In 2013, she posted a tweet about National Security Advisor Susan Rice, writing that the woman of color was "a man with big swinging ape b****."

Following Roseanne's cancellation, Gilbert addressed the news on Twitter, stating, "Roseanne's recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least." She went on, "This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us, as we've created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love— one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member."

While co-star John Goodman hasn't had much to say about the show's cancellation or Barr's words, other Roseanne stars have spoken out. Michael Fishman, who played D.J. Conner, told his Twitter followers that he felt "devastated" for the cast, crew, and fans of the show. He called Barr's statements "reprehensible and intolerable."

Actress Emma Kenney, who is known for playing Harris Conner-Healy on Roseanne, also took to social media to air her grievances against Barr. Noting that she'd learned about the show's cancellation when she called her manager to quit, Kenney called Barr's words "racist and distasteful," as well as "inexcusable."