Roseanne Barr took to Twitter Tuesday to issue an apology for what she labeled a “bad joke” about former Barack Obama aide Valerie 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,” the 65-year-old actress tweeted to her thousands of followers.
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: (L-R) Actress Roseanne Barr speaks with SiriusXM host Sandra Bernhard during SiriusXM’s Town Hall with the cast of Roseanne on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
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
A short time before, she tweeted that she was “leaving Twitter” over the now deleted post.
I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter.
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
In the deleted tweet, Barr makes a comment about Jarrett, who is African American and born in Iran.
“muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” Barr tweeted.
Roseanne Barr attacks former Obama adviser in racially-charged tweet https://t.co/7wuKlO2m6Z pic.twitter.com/bEaiB4fDmJ
— The Hill (@thehill) May 29, 2018
The backlash came swift, with people on Twitter calling for ABC to cancel her show and one of the writers of “Roseanne,” Wanda Sykes, quitting the show over the comment.