“Roseanne” Canceled Over Racist Tweet. But What About her Islamophobia?

TV Star Roseanne Barr (left) invoked “Planet of the Apes” and the Muslim Brotherhood when describing former Obama Adviser Valerie Jarrett (right) on Twitter.
TV Star Roseanne Barr (left) invoked "Planet of the Apes" and the Muslim Brotherhood when describing former Obama Adviser Valerie Jarrett (right) on Twitter. Wikimedia Commons
TV Star Roseanne Barr (left) invoked “Planet of the Apes” and the Muslim Brotherhood when describing former Obama Adviser Valerie Jarrett (right) on Twitter.
TV Star Roseanne Barr (left) invoked "Planet of the Apes" and the Muslim Brotherhood when describing former Obama Adviser Valerie Jarrett (right) on Twitter. Wikimedia Commons

“Roseanne” Canceled Over Racist Tweet. But What About her Islamophobia?

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Roseanne Barr, the star behind a classic namesake sitcom on ABC, is being widely criticized for a racist tweet directed towards former Obama Administration Adviser Valerie Jarrett. Barr’s tweet, which has since been deleted, compared Jarrett to a situation where the “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby.” ABC cancelled Roseanne’s widely-watched reboot yesterday after social media users pointed to the anti-Black racism directed against Jarrett, whose presents were Black and Iranian American. But Barr’s Islamophobia has also drawn attention over the years. An episode of Roseanne which aired earlier this month was widely criticized for featuring Muslim characters accused of building a bomb. To discuss, we’re joined by Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago office of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).