Former 'Roseanne' Actor Defends 2018 Reboot Cancellation

Michael Fishman, the actor who portrayed D.J. Conner on the sitcom "Roseanne," used Instagram to reaffirm his support for the 2018 cancellation of the show's reboot. In a video posted on the platform, Fishman said he had previously ignored criticism but could no longer "turn the other cheek" regarding the controversy surrounding co-star Roseanne Barr's racist remarks on social media.

Fishman noted that the series was cancelled after Barr posted a series of tweets comparing former White House adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape, which were widely condemned as racist. He added that he receives frequent messages defending Barr and described them as "ignorant and inaccurate," saying he usually does not respond to such comments.

The actor, now 44, began his career at age six and appeared in the original run of "Roseanne" from 1988 to 1997 and its brief 2018 revival. Following Barr's firing, ABC produced a spin-off featuring most of the original cast, including Fishman.

Fishman emphasized that dehumanizing language can have real-world consequences, citing recent deaths of Black individuals in Mississippi. He urged that comedians bear responsibility for their words and concluded that the show's cancellation was justified. He expressed continued compassion for Barr, acknowledging that "good people make mistakes," but stressed that the damage caused by her comments could not be dismissed as a joke.