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Sara Gilbert on Roseanne: 'I Do Stand Behind the Decision ABC Made'

Sara Gilbert on Roseanne: 'I Do Stand Behind the Decision ABC Made'

Sara Gilbert

The cohost of The Talk spoke for the first time about the series' cancellation following Barr's racist tweet, and said the show has always been about "diversity, love, and inclusion." 

Other than her initial tweet condemning TV mom Roseanne Barr's racist name-calling on Twitter last week, Sara Gilbert spoke publicly for the first time about the controversy and ABC subsequently canceling Roseanne.

Because Gilbert's show The Talk ran a series of prerecorded episodes last week, Tuesday's edition offered the first opportunity for her to comment on that show on the demise of Roseanne, which she produced.

"This has been a very difficult week. A lot of people have been hurt by this. I will say I'm proud of the show we made. The show has always been about diversity, love, and inclusion, and it's sad to see it end in this way," Gilbert said. "I'm sad for the people who lost their jobs in the process; however, I do stand behind the decision that ABC made."

Response to Barr's tweet in which she called Valerie Jarrett, a former top aide to President Barack Obama, an "ape" was fast and furious, including consulting producer Wanda Sykes announcing via Twitter, "I will not be returning to Roseanne."

Shortly after Sykes's announcement, Gilbert, Barr's longtime TV daughter and one of the driving forces behind the ratings juggernaut of a reboot that premiered in March, tweeted her disappointment with Barr's racist comments.

Gilbert wrote in a pair of tweets that Barr's racist remarks were "abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show."

"This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us, as we've created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love -- one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member," Gilbert continued.

Barr, an avid Donald Trump supporter who recently defended his appalling record on LGBT rights, has a long history of making transphobic and other problematic statements, most of which were available for anyone to read on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Gilbert's Talk cohost Sheryl Underwood praised ABC for sending a message by dumping the series so quickly.

"I'm really glad to hear you say that," Underwood responded to Gilbert saying she agreed with ABC's decision to cancel the series. "Because, as a black woman who is a comedian, I'm very proud of Channing Dungey, who's the president of ABC Entertainment. And as Spike Lee says, 'A lot of people came together to do the right thing.' And I'm happy to see that it was done swiftly."

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