John Goodman Would ‘Rather Say Nothing’ on Roseanne Barr Controversy
John Goodman has been tight-lipped about the firestorm caused by Roseanne Barr's racist tweets that led to the termination of Roseanne this week.
According to Entertainment Tonight, who supposedly ran into Goodman in New Orleans this week, the actor was hesitant to return comment on the controversy circling the problematic remarks made by the series' leading star.
The 65-year-old — who portrays Barr's husband Dan Cooper on the series — explained that he would "rather say nothing than to cause more trouble" but assured he's doing well and that "everything's fine" since the backlash earlier this week. Even so, the 10 Cloverfield Lane star concluded that he "don't know anything about" the story in development because "I don't read it."
On Tuesday (May 29), ABC announced it would be axing Roseanne in light of Barr's string of racially-insensitive insults about former White House adviser Valerie Jarett, an African-American born in Iran to American parents whom Barr targeted in the following since-deleted tweet: "Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj."
In response to another user asking if @RacismDog, an account that exposes racist comments, had read Barr's dubious tweet, she wrote back: "Muslims r NOT a race."
ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey responded to the outrage, calling Barr's tweets "abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values" and affirming that the network would be cutting the show completely.
Barr has since issued an apology to Jarrett and fellow Americans in light of the backlash she suffered.
"I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter," one tweet read. "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."
Since the controversy, fellow castmate Sara Gilbert has publicly spoken out against Barr's offensive statements.
"Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show," Gilbert wrote. "I am disappointed in her actions to say the least."
Also as a result of Barr's comments, consulting producer Wanda Sykes and co-showrunner Whitney Cummings have both parted ways with the show.