Wanda Sykes Quits 'Roseanne' After Roseanne Barr's Racist Tweet

Wanda Sykes is quitting as a consulting producer on "Roseanne" after the show's star, Roseanne Barr, posted a racist tweet about former presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett.

Sykes announced her decision to leave the hit ABC sitcom on Twitter:

I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC.

— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 29, 2018

The move comes after Barr sparked outrage by tweeting a racially-charged remark about Jarrett, former advisor to President Barack Obama, that referenced "Planet of the Apes" and the Muslim Brotherhood.

After coming under fire, Barr apologized, saying it was a bad joke, and also indicated she would delete her Twitter account:

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.

— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018

Many are calling for ABC to cancel the show and stop giving Barr a platform for her views:

Hey @ABC, Roseanne Barr compared Valerie Jarrett to an ape. There is no apology she can make that justifies @ABC turning a blind eye to this bigotry by airing another second of her show.
Even in the Age of Trump, there are red lines that can never be crossed. This is one.

— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) May 29, 2018

Sykes' departure would be the second major exit from the show's staff; last week, Whitney Cummings stepped down as co-showrunner, citing scheduling conflicts.

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