Actor: Barr's Tweet Was Not a Joke

Actor Michael Fishman has broken his usual silence to address ongoing social media comments defending Roseanne Barr following her 2018 firing. Fishman, known for his role as DJ Conner, directly responded to a user who claimed Barr's controversial tweet was just "edgy comedian" humor and that the show's revival was canceled due to "woke crap."

Fishman asserted that such comments perpetuate lies and use political excuses to justify the indefensible. He reiterated that Barr herself admitted her statement was indefensible, warning that dehumanizing language, even when disguised as a joke, leads to serious real-world consequences. Fishman stressed that while comedians benefit from free speech, this freedom is not without responsibility.

The actor clarified that while he loves Barr and believes good people make mistakes, her tweet was not a joke but an act of damage and dehumanization that perpetuated racial tropes. He asserted that those targeted by the statements were the true victims. Fishman urged those defending such rhetoric to cease their commentary, emphasizing that words carry significant real-world impact.

In 2018, ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey canceled the "Roseanne" revival after Barr's tweet comparing former President Obama's advisor Valerie Jarrett to an "ape." Following the cancellation, ABC developed a spin-off, "The Conners," which aired for seven seasons from 2018 to 2025, with Barr's character written off the show.