Michael Fishman responds after Roseanne Barr calls him ‘brainwashed bigot’

Michael Fishman responds after Roseanne Barr calls him 'brainwashed bigot'.

Key points

• When Barr posted a racist message regarding Valerie Jarrett, a Black former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, the dispute traces back to May 2018.
• "The Conners" debuted without Barr in October 2018 and ran for seven seasons before ending in 2025.
• In the video, Fishman remarked Barr had confirmed that he contacted her after the social media controversy that led ABC to cancel its "Roseanne" revival in 2018.
• Roseanne Barr to talk Trump and 'tweet the obtained her fired' with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
• Barr accused Fishman of failing to understand her explanation for the 2018 post that prompted the show's cancellation.

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Michael Fishman is responding to former "Roseanne" costar Roseanne Barr after she called him a "brainwashed bigot" during a profanity-laced podcast appearance.

Fishman, who played Barr's onscreen son D.J. Conner, addressed the comedian's remarks in an Instagram video Thursday⁠, Sept. 24, rejecting what he described as "obvious lies and name-calling."

"I don't need to address obvious lies or name calling. I choose to live, work, create, and share love, " Fishman wrote in the post's caption. "Trust in the truth. Walk with integrity."

"I gave you respect and asked for clarity, " Fishman remarked. "I never turned my back, but I actually showed you compassion even though I vehemently disagreed with you."

When Barr posted a racist message regarding Valerie Jarrett, a Black former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, the dispute traces back to May 2018. The since-deleted post compared Jarrett to the Muslim Brotherhood and "Planet of the Apes."

Fishman remarked Barr's recent comments offered "a glimpse into the darker side" of his childhood and suggested he could eventually share a more complete account of his experience growing up on the sitcom. He additionally asked Barr for "a retraction or an apology."

"I don't have to take the hook of the fight just because people lash out, " Fishman remarked, adding that he has established "healthy boundaries" with his former costar. Roseanne Barr calls Michael Fishman 'brainwashed bigot'.

Barr criticized Fishman during an appearance on the "Can't Be Censored" podcast⁠, where she was asked regarding his defense of ABC's decision to cancel the "Roseanne" revival.

"He hasn't even taken the time to listen to what I say because he's a bigot, " Barr remarked. "And he's a brainwashed bigot."

Barr additionally called Fishman an "ignoramus" and a "worm, " and alleged she was the reason he had been included in the "Roseanne" revival. Why was 'Roseanne' canceled? 'Roseanne' star slams Roseanne Barr's racist tweet defenders, 'perpetuating a lie'.

ABC canceled the highly rated revival⁠ within hours of Barr's social media post. Barr apologized at the time, calling the post a "bad joke" regarding Jarrett's politics and appearance, but has continued to dispute characterizations of the message as racist.

Channing Dungey, ABC Entertainment 's president at the time, issued a statement to USA TODAY denouncing Barr's original tweet.

"Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show, " Dungey's statement remarked.

Fishman addressed the controversy again last month after an Instagram user blamed the show's cancellation on "woke" culture. He remarked Barr's post caused "damage and dehumanizing, " arguing that "there was no joke" and the revival was "rightfully canceled."

"The Conners" debuted without Barr in October 2018 and ran for seven seasons before ending in 2025. Fishman appeared in its first four seasons before announcing in 2022 that he had been informed he would not return for Season 5. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

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