“We didn’t think it through properly. What Roseanne did was wrong but we shouldn’t have rushed to fire her. It was almost a knee-jerk reaction by Ben [Sherwood] and Channing [Dungey] who should have launched an investigation,” said one executive.
“This would have given them more time to listen to the public, advertisers and cast members to determine the best decision.”
The “Roseanne” reboot, which started airing earlier this year but stopped after Barr’s firing, was the top scripted series across all networks, averaging 19.3 million total viewers per episode, including a 5.5 rating among the coveted 18-49 demographic.
The show generated much controversy after the main character supported President Donald Trump, a stance not typically seen on mainstream television, which skews to the left.
But the ratings magnet would have continued if not for the Roseanne tweet, and possibly should have continued despite the missive, the executives said, noting other punishment options existed.
‘They Could’ve Suspended Her
One executive told the Mail that Roseanne could have been suspended for a few episodes without pay but ultimately allowed to return.“I mean the season finale saw Roseanne going to the hospital for knee surgery. While they worked out her fate, her character could have faced serious complications and fought for her life, while simultaneously making Roseanne fight for her career with a national apology tour,” the executive said.
“The morning the racist tweet scandal blew up, Roseanne offered to publicly apologize and do the rounds of every show but Ben and Channing weren’t having any of that and wanted her gone. Why not have her front a PSA for the network on racism and cyber bullying?”
One of the executives said that ABC fears the ratings for the “Roseanne” spinoff, “The Connors,” which is set to debut on Oct. 16, will not even be a quarter of what “Roseanne” was drawing earlier this year.
Barr Apologizes, Says She’s Not Racist
Roseanne has repeatedly apologized for the tweet, directed at comparing Valerie Jarett, a former advisor to President Barack Obama.But she’s also said that she didn’t mean it as a racist comment and that the tweet was misinterpreted.
“(T)hey would put me in the same box where they have people who call for the death of all Jews and want to enslave all black people. [The same box as] real racists that actually exist,” she said. “They put me in a box with them. And how do they think that’s gonna affect me? They don’t think. They’re under mind control.”
