While some celebrities are cheering for the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live!after its short-lived hiatus, not everyone finds the comeback cause for celebration. Comedian Roseanne Barr has a direct message for ABC — and she’s not holding back.
In an interview with NewsNation, Barr, 72, called out the network for what she believes is a clear case of double standards. The broadcaster reinstated Kimmel’s late-night show after a brief suspension, a move that didn’t sit well with Barr, who’s still grappling with the fallout from her own public controversy with the same network.
“I got my whole life ruined, no forgiveness and all of my work stolen and called a racist for time and eternity, for racially misgendering someone,” Barr said. “It just shows how they think. It’s a double standard.”
The comedian’s frustration stems from ABC’s 2018 cancellation of her Roseanne reboot. The decision followed her now-infamous tweets about Valerie Jarrett, the previous senior advisor to former President Barack Obama. In those tweets, Barr likened Jarrett to the “Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes,” drawing widespread backlash. The network quickly cut ties with Barr and rebranded the show as The Conners, excluding her from any involvement.
Barr later apologized publicly, claiming she believed Jarrett was white. “I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans,” she wrote at the time. “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.”
Since then, Barr has remained a controversial figure and an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump. In her latest comments, she didn’t just criticize ABC — she took aim at Kimmel, too.
“I think he’ll cheer himself on and his fans, all what is it, 2,000 of them,” she said sarcastically. “They’ll feel heartened and, you know, like they won another battle against Trump and the people of the United States.”
The Emmy-winning actress also claimed her contributions to television history, and feminism, have been wiped out in the aftermath of the scandal.
“I’ve been erased from history, from the history of feminism, which that cracks me up,” Barr said. “I’m never mentioned in anything about women who are pioneers in media. I’m never mentioned in anything anymore.”
