Former Senior Advisor to Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, has responded to Roseanne Barr’s racist Twitter post.
On Tuesday, Barr issued a racist remark on Twitter comparing Jarrett to an ape. In a now deleted tweet, Barr referred to Jarrett as the product of “muslim brotherhood and planet of the apes had a baby.” And although she claimed she was sorry afterwards, Barr's racism had been on front display and led ABC to cancel her show entirely.
As the internet collectively clapped over the show's cancelling, Jarrett, with grace, responded to the racist remarks on Tuesday. In an interview with MSNBC, Jarrett said "I'm fine" but that she hopes that the whole event can be turned into a “teaching moment." She went on to say that she is more concerned about the ordinary examples that happen every day and that she is “worried about all the people out there who don’t have a circle of friends and followers coming to their defense," she said — like "the person who’s walking down the street minding their own business and they see somebody cling to their purse or want to cross the street. Or walk across the street. Or every black parent I know who has a boy who has to sit down and have a conversation – the talk, as we call it."
On Tuesday, before her show's canceling, Barr released a public apology to Jarrett on her Twitter, saying:
“I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste.”
I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste.— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018
#NotMyPresident decided to weigh in on the issue, co-signing with the argument that Barr’s comments were nothing but lighthearted jokes.
“You know @therealroseanne is a comedian don’t you? You know she makes jokes…that’s what comedians do!” Donald Trump tweeted.
You know @therealroseanne is a comedian don't you? You know she makes jokes…that's what comedians do!— ????????Sonya???????? (@SonyaSone7) May 30, 2018
Some, however, are not convinced.
It’s not sensitivity, it’s respecting all races and religions.— Jan Bobek (@JanC182) May 29, 2018
You should also apologize to all the wonderful people you just put out of work and those who gave you another opportunity. But mostly you should apologize to American children who have to grow up feeling less than because of ignorant bigots like you.— Aviva Yael (@Veevers) May 29, 2018
You weren't making a joke. This is an ugly comparison that the worst people in American history have made for over 2 centuries. I guess you have a new fan base; old racists who don't know what a joke is.— Brian Wiedle (@BrianWiedle) May 30, 2018