Roseanne Barr accuses former co-star Michael Fishman of bigotry on podcast

Actress Roseanne Barr said on the "Can't Be Censored" podcast that former "Roseanne" co-star Michael Fishman is a "bigot" and accused him of being "brainwashed." Barr responded after Fishman described the 2018 reboot of the sitcom as "rightfully canceled," a comment that references the series’ termination following Barr’s controversial tweet about former White House adviser Valerie Jarrett.

The original series was revived in March 2018 and achieved strong ratings before being cancelled two months later after Barr posted the racist remark, which she later apologized for multiple times. ABC subsequently removed her from the show and launched a spin-off titled "The Connors" without her involvement.

During the interview, Barr claimed Fishman had repeatedly asked her about her statements and said she told him to stop using her name. She added that she has not maintained contact with any former cast members, stating, "I have pleasant memories of what fun we had, wish them all the best, but we don't talk."

Laurie Metcalf, who played Barr’s sister on the series, told The New Yorker that she and Barr have not spoken since the reboot ended. Barr also said in a documentary that she declined an invitation to appear as a guest on the spin-off, describing the offer as disrespectful.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Barr and former colleagues stemming from the controversy that led to the original show's cancellation.