Wanda Sykes Quits ‘Roseanne’ After Star Goes On Racist Twitter Rant

Wanda Sykes Quits ‘Roseanne’ After Star Goes On Racist Twitter Rant

Following Roseanne Barr’s blatantly racist tweet attacking former Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett in which she wrote the African-American woman’s parents were apes, a consulting producer of her hit ABC sitcom announced she would not be returning for a second season.

In a tweet sent out late Tuesday morning, comedian Wanda Sykes — who, like Jarrett, is a black woman — stated that she was quitting the smash revival of the legendary sitcom. Earlier this year, ABC said it had renewed Roseanne for a second season.

Sykes had been described as a “head writer” in the past, but she pushed back on that description today:

After outrage built over her racist Twitter tirade — a rant that included shots at Chelsea Clinton, George Soros and CNN political analyst Chris Cillizza — Barr tweeted out an apology and claimed she was “now leaving Twitter.” Many observers noted that her apology tweet looked very much like something that was composed by the network’s PR and legal folks.

Disney and ABC have been largely silent over these past few months as Barr has used her Twitter feed to push fringe conspiracies and inflammatory political and cultural rhetoric. Now that she’s gone full racist, will they continue to turn a blind eye because her show pulls in good ratings? CNN’s Brian Stelter teased on Twitter that he’ll have more details about ABC’s reaction to Barr.

UPDATE: ABC has announced that they have canceled the show.

Justin Baragona

Justin Baragona is the founder/publisher of Contemptor and a contributor to The Daily Beast. He was previously the Cable News Correspondent for Mediaite and prior to starting Contemptor, he worked on the editorial staff of PoliticusUSA. During that time, he had his work quoted by USA Today and BBC News, among others. Justin began his published career as a political writer for 411Mania. He resides in St. Louis, MO with his wife and pets.

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