Disney chairman and 'ABC' boss break silence about shocking 'Roseanne' cancellation

Channing Dungey declares that Roseanne Barr's statement is repugnant to the ABC Network

The President of ABC Entertainment, Channing Dungey, announced the cancelation of "Roseanne" in the aftermath of Roseanne Barr's offensive tweet targetting Valerie Jarrett .

Walt Disney chairman and CEO Robert Iger commented on his own Twitter account that ABC's cancellation of the show was "the right thing" and "the only thing to do."

Dungley stated that Barr's views were repugnant, offensive and incompatible with the Network's values and that they could no longer enable her or her beliefs.

Actress Emma Kenney who plays Harris Conner-Healy in the series has declared that she was planning to leave the show before the announced cancellation as she did not wish to be associated with Barr's racist views

"There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing."

Robert Iger, Twitter, 29th of May 2018

Roseanne Barr posted a racist and Islamophobic tweet earlier on, in the first hours of the morning of the 29th of May 2018 comparing former Barack Obama aide Valerie Jarrett to a Planet of the Apes character. She also insinuated that since Jarrett was Iranian-born, she would have definite Islamic leanings. The tweet was posted at 2:45 a.m. ET and the public's reaction was immediate and explosive.

Jarrett is an African-American and was born in Iran where her father ran a children's hospital. Jarrett moved to the United States when she was 7 years old, and as an adult worked as the Director of the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs during both terms of the Obama administration.

Barr initially tried to defend her tweet by saying that it was not racist since Islam is not a race, but eventually apologized and claimed it was a 'bad joke' in 'poor taste' but not meant to hurt or offend anyone.

The tweet was deleted, but the damage was done, and the actress may be facing long-term consequences to her 'joke.'

Two of her long-time friends and colleagues, Wanda Sykes and Sara Gilbert, have already expressed their abhorrence for her behavior, as have many other celebrities.

"Roseanne" had had record-breaking ratings in its revival season, and was slated to become one of the biggest successes of the coming season.