Hit comedy show "Roseanne" dropped following racist tweet by host directed to former US President Obama

ABC TV network has cancelled comedian Roseanne Barr’s sitcom after she posted a racist tweet likening an African-American former President Obama aide to an ape. ABC said: “Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values and we have decided to cancel her show.” The reboot of her hit ‘90s sitcom

“Roseanne” has been a ratings hit. The comedian deleted Monday night’s original post, but could not contain the backlash. “I apologise to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans,” Barr wrote, after follow-up posts in which she defended her remarks as a “joke”. “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.” Barr’s initial tweet came in response to another Twitter user, who accused Mrs Jarrett of helping to conceal purported spying during the Obama administration. Mrs Jarrett was a senior adviser to former US President Barack Obama, and worked with him during his early days in Chicago politics. She was born in Iran to African-American parents.