- “Roseanne” star Roseanne Barr, 71, returned to Hollywood nearly five years after she was fired and “lost everything.”
- She looked fantastic in a photo with long hair and makeup after flirting with Rihanna’s boyfriend, A$AP Rocky.
- Barr revealed how her TV daughter, Sara Gilbert, reportedly “destroyed” her life.
Roseanne Barr on February 14, 2023, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Roseanne Barr, the face of the hit show “Roseanne,” finally made a comeback. After a long time away from the spotlight, the actress has made her way back to Hollywood with a new comedy show titled, “Roseanne Barr: Cancel This!”
The actress also had some more excellent news after a new documentary on her long and intricate career was released. The return to show business came after she made an insensitive comment about Valerie Jarrett, a person of color and presidential adviser, back in 2018.
The comedy actress opened up after being canceled in 2018, saying she had “lost everything.” The ordeal came just as her highly successful TV show was starting its reboot. After the comment, however, television executives decided the best course of action would be to cancel the reboot just as it started airing.
Barr also said it felt like a personal attack on her after her character was killed off.
Roseanne Barr on July 26, 2018, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
But Barr refused to lie down. She opened up about the years after 2018, saying it was discouraging to be silenced wherever she went. She asked the studio executives for a chance to apologize and explain her actions, but they refused. She mentioned, “And they denied me the right to apologize.”
Fortunately, Barr got back up again and was open about her experiences between 2018 and now. She took a step back from Twitter, investing in her Instagram presence instead. Fans showed their support, saying, “You look fabulous Roseanne.”
Many users took to Barr’s comment section to show their support after the 71-year-old revealed her makeup & loose long hair look. In line with her new-found confidence, Barr sent A$AP Rocky a message that read, “Call me when you get tired of Rihanna.”
Sara Gilbert, who played Barr’s on-screen daughter in “Roseanne,” also commented on the explosive Tweet.
Barr posed with her new hairdo and nails, smiling broadly in an Instagram post. She looked extremely happy to be back after the controversy, and Instagram users complimented her on the interview where the photo was taken.
How Did Roseanne Barr Feel after She Was Canceled?
Losing her job and being vilified by many people who used to be her fans and co-stars took its toll on Barr. She mentioned that she felt utterly alone. She noted it seemed to her as if she was being attacked from all sides by people who were jealous of her and who wanted to see her fall.
Gilbert was a considerable driving force behind the show’s reboot, and she corresponded with Barr to ensure she wanted to be a part of it.
Barr also said it felt like a personal attack on her after her character was killed off. To her, it was a message saying they didn’t want her around anymore and a direct dismissal of the work she had done over the years. She commented:
“I’m the only person who’s lost everything, whose life’s work was stolen, stolen by people who I thought loved me. And there was silence. There was no one in Hollywood really defending me publicly, except for Mo’nique, who is a brave, close, dear friend.”
Mo’Nique described Barr as her “sister in comedy” and referred to the infamous tweet as a mistake, stating she wouldn’t “put [Barr] on the racist list.” The award-winning stand-up comedian and actress further expressed, “My sister made a mistake and she said something I know she wishes she could take back. But what I would ask is we don’t throw her away.”
In addition to Mo’Nique, Barr garnered support from her “Roseanne” co-star John Goodman. He expressed missing her and affirmed his conviction that she was not a racist. Goodman also acknowledged that he was aware Barr was going through a difficult time.
When questioned about supporting Barr in June 2023, Goodman expressed no regrets. When asked if he would work with her again, he replied, “I don’t know. If she’d like to… I just don’t know. I miss her. I wish her well.”
Despite having survived being canceled, Barr mentioned it was a terrible time. She described it as a “witch-burning” and as “terrifying” times in her life, noting, “I would die many times.” Although she’s glad to be back, she likely wouldn’t forget the ordeal anytime soon.
What Did Sara Gilbert Do before Barr’s Cancellation?
After Barr’s controversial comments, numerous prominent Hollywood figures took to social media to show their disdain for her words. Everyone from Shonda Rhimes to Congressman John Lewis criticized her, accusing her of being insensitive and urging her to apologize for what she said. But one accusatory comment left a deeper mark than the rest.
Sara Gilbert, who played Barr’s on-screen daughter in “Roseanne,” also commented on the explosive Tweet. Gilbert was a considerable driving force behind the show’s reboot, and she corresponded with Barr to ensure she wanted to be a part of it.
After Barr’s Tweet, however, Gilbert took to Instagram to express that the show-runners and the rest of the staff didn’t share the views expressed in the Tweet. Gilbert called the Tweet “abhorrent” and mentioned that the TV show didn’t reflect what was implied in the Tweet.
Roseanne Barr and Sara Gilbert in a scene from “Roseanne,” circa 2017 | Source: Getty Images
Barr responded to Gilbert’s statement, saying, “She destroyed the show and my life with that tweet. She will never get enough until she consumes my liver with a fine Chianti.”
During an exclusive May 2023 interview with Megyn Kelly, Barr shared her thoughts on Hollywood’s cancel culture. She openly criticized Gilbert, asserting that she had “stabbed” her “in the back” and “repeatedly twisted” the knife.
Sara Gilbert on September 19, 2019, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Although Barr credited Gilbert’s statement for a large part of her downfall, Gilbert replied that her intentions were never to harm the actress. Instead, she mentioned that the show’s ending was heartbreaking for her, and she would always think of Barr as family.