From what I understand, the story lines often pitted the title character Roseanne Conner (played by series co-creator Roseanne Barr), an unabashed Donald Trump supporter, against her p***y hat wearing, Hillary Clinton supporting sister Jackie. This was quite a coup for ABC TV as it featured perhaps the only prime time TV show which wasn't built on the premise of verbally savaging Trump, much less having the main character laud him. And much like the initial run, the show enjoyed solid ratings. Heck, Trump himself even gave Barr kudos over the relaunch.
All that having been said, there were several conservatives warning Trump fans and other right-of-center politicos against embracing Barr despite her support of the President.
Ben Shaprio at The Daily Wire warned in March that the show is actually an affront to cultural conservatives.
J.J. McCullough at National Review reminded folks in April of Barr's nuttiness, especially her embracing 9/11 conspiracy theories.
Tiana Lowe, also of NR, tweeted out a 2011 interview with Barr when she was embracing the fascist desires of Occupy Wall Street.
And while Barr is a comedienne, she once invoked a taboo subject which is deemed unacceptable in any context: Hitler and the Holocaust.
Just remembered this.— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) March 29, 2018
Roseanne Barr did a photo shoot in 2009 titled “Domestic Goddess Hitler’s Burnt Jew Cookies” for Heeb’s Germany issue. The title of the article: “Burnt Jew Cookie Recipe – Over 6 Million Served.”
I didn’t laugh then & I’m not now.https://t.co/AcQRthRjAG pic.twitter.com/PWwxjZw8mx
With all that background, is there really any surprise in what happened next?
Walt Disney Co's ABC network on Tuesday canceled the popular US television comedy "Roseanne" after star Roseanne Barr sparked outrage by comparing a black former Obama administration official to an ape in remarks on Twitter.
The show, a revival of the 1990s hit "Roseanne," was ABC's most widely watched show for the TV season that ended last week, drawing more than 18 million viewers on average each week.
"Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show," ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey said in a statement.
Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger added on Twitter: "There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing."
In a since deleted comment on Twitter, Barr compared former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, 61, to an ape. She wrote that if the Islamist political movement "muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby = vj."
Barr, 65, apologized "for making a bad joke" about Jarrett, who is black and was born in Iran to American parents.
Once again, many Trumpkins have made this about Trump, essentially saying this is only being done because Barr is an outspoken advocate of the President. And naturally there are cries of "what-aboutism" given that much of the offensive rhetoric leftists on TV spew towards conservatives et al are met with veritable yawns. But like it or not, there is zero tolerance when it comes to matters of race. And equating a black woman to an "ape" is a bridge too far, especially coming from a woman who has exuded similar traits in the past.
Sure, the entertainment industry may utilize "selective enforcement" when it comes to ostracizing personalities over their viewpoints. However, defending Ms. Barr in this instance is likely not the hill you want to die upon.
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