ABC has decided to suspend its Emmy campaign for “Roseanne” following the show’s cancellation over Roseanne Barr’s tweet about former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett.
According to The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday, in addition to halting the Emmy campaign, no cast members of the show will be present at an event on June 3 by ABC Entertainment/ABC Studios to highlight the network’s biggest talent from its programs to Academy members.
“Roseanne’s behavior today is merely the continuation of her awful behavior ever since the show was announced, so this series wasn’t even on my Emmy radar. As a member of the PR branch, I only get to vote for shows, and I wouldn’t have voted for Roseanne even if she showed some decency and humanity– not funny, not original, not worthy,” Jonathan Taylor, a member of the TV Academy’s producers peer group, shared. “But I do feel terrible for the talented cast and crew who will now suffer, because of her, at the Emmys and [with] ongoing employment. The price of racist stupidity, unfortunately.”
The decision follows a statement earlier in the day from ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey that the popular reboot had been cancelled over the “abhorrent, repugnant” tweet.
Statement by Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment:
[Issued on May 29, 2018]
Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show.
— ABC Publicity (@ABC_Publicity) May 29, 2018
In the now-deleted tweet, Barr commented about Jarrett, who is African-American and was born in Iran.
“muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” the 65-year-old actress 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 was quick and she immediately issued an apology for “making a bad joke.” But it was too late and ABC soon announced that they had canceled the series.
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