Jimmy Kimmel offered words of support for Roseanne Barr on Wednesday, a day after Barr’s ABC show was canceled due to offensive tweets she published, saying that Barr “could probably use some compassion and help right now.”
In a tweet published Wednesday, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host Kimmel made it clear that he didn’t agree with Barr’s statements, but said that Barr is “obviously not well” and implored people to “take a breath and remember that mental health issues are real.”
“What @TheRealRoseanne said is indefensible, but angrily attacking a woman who is obviously not well does no good for anyone,” Kimmel tweeted. “Please take a breath and remember that mental health issues are real. The Roseanne I know could probably use some compassion and help right now.”
Barr’s successful “Roseanne” revival, which had previously been renewed for a second season, was canceled by ABC on Tuesday after Barr insulted former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, suggesting that Jarrett is a product of the Muslim Brotherhood and “Planet of the Apes.”
Barr subsequently apologized, but the apology failed to save her show, which was given the ax by ABC.
“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 on Tuesday.
Later Tuesday, Barr attempted to explain that she was “ambien tweeting” at 2 a.m. “Guys I did something unforgiveable [sic] so do not defend me. It was 2 in the morning and I was ambien tweeting-it was memorial day too-i went 2 far & do not want it defended-it was egregious Indefensible,” she wrote.
On Tuesday night’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” the host humorously addressed the situation, jokingly rebooting “Roseanne” for ABC — which airs Kimmel’s show — by removing Barr’s character Roseanne Conner and making it mostly about Barr’s onscreen husband Dan (John Goodman).
What @TheRealRoseanne said is indefensible, but angrily attacking a woman who is obviously not well does no good for anyone. Please take a breath and remember that mental health issues are real. The Roseanne I know could probably use some compassion and help right now.
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) May 30, 2018