Barr Criticizes Fishman
Roseanne Barr sharply attacks former co-star Michael Fishman over sitcom cancellation comments.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Fishman said he had been quietly dealing with inaccurate claims about Barr’s treatment for more than eight years, but argued that “turning the other cheek” was no longer helping.
2
Fishman framed the controversy as an issue of responsibility as well as free speech, saying freedom of speech carries consequences and that the original post caused “dehumanizing damage,” rather than constituting a joke.
3
The revival initially premiered to strong reviews and ratings before ABC canceled it; the network then retooled the series without Barr as “The Conners,” which ran for seven seasons and ended in 2025.
4
Fishman’s Instagram message included a personal qualification absent from Barr’s response: he said he still loves Barr and believes that good people can make mistakes.
Roseanne Barr attacked Michael Fishman on a podcast after her former "Roseanne" co-star defended ABC's 2018 cancellation of the show. Gold Coast Bulletin reported that Barr called Fishman a "bigot," "ignoramus," and "little f---ing worm" during an appearance on the "Can't Be Censored" podcast. Fishman, who played D.J. Conner, had posted an Instagram video saying the network was right to cancel the revival following Barr's racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett in 2018.
Fishman framed the issue as one of responsibility and free speech, arguing that dehumanizing language carries consequences. He said he had stayed quiet for eight years while inaccurate claims circulated about Barr's treatment. Despite his criticism, Fishman stated he still loves Barr and believes people can make mistakes — a tone absent from Barr's fiery response.
The 2018 Cancellation and Its Aftermath
ABC canceled "Roseanne" immediately after Barr's May 2018 tweet comparing Valerie Jarrett, a Black former Obama aide, to an ape. The show had just premiered to strong reviews and ratings. Adelaide Now reported that Barr claimed she had explained the tweet's meaning to Fishman "10,000 times," but he refused to understand it. The network later retooled the series as "The Conners" without Barr, which ran for seven seasons until 2025.
Fishman Defends the Network's Decision
Fishman's Instagram video stated that the original post caused "dehumanizing damage" rather than constituting a joke. He said the cancellation was justified and that attempts to excuse Barr's remarks were misleading. News.com.au reported that Fishman explained he could no longer stay silent after eight years of "turning the other cheek." He argued that free speech and its consequences are inseparable concepts.
Barr's Harsh Rebuttal and Defense Claims
Barr told Fishman to stop discussing her and defended her controversial post. Geelong Advertiser reported that Barr called Fishman "brainwashed" and accused him of not understanding what she had said. She also claimed she had fought to keep Fishman in the revival after producers wanted to remove him — a claim she presented as evidence of her support for him.
A Rift Between Former On-Screen Siblings
The clash reveals a deep divide between two actors who spent years together on television. Cairns Post reported that Barr's podcast appearance showed no sign of reconciliation or willingness to acknowledge Fishman's perspective. Fishman's more measured response — acknowledging both Barr's potential for growth and the real harm her words caused — contrasts sharply with Barr's dismissive attacks and attempts to reframe her original post.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
14
Articles
30
Reach
44
A
AnonymousAuthor
