Roseanne Barr Calls Out ABC’s “Double Standard” on Jimmy Kimmel Return — “I’ve Been Erased From History”

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Roseanne Barr is strongly criticizing ABC for bringing Jimmy Kimmel back after his suspension. She argues the network is applying a clear double standard, pointing out that while she was canceled, Kimmel received a much lighter punishment.

This recent development further intensifies the existing debate surrounding Disney, ABC, and their related companies.

Roseanne’s Blistering Take

Barr told NewsNation she feels hurt and forgotten as Kimmel continues to host his show.

Barr claims his life was destroyed after he was falsely accused of racism for mistakenly referring to someone by the wrong gender, and that his work was stolen as a result. He believes this demonstrates a double standard and reveals how his accusers think.

She also mocked the idea that Kimmel’s fanbase will celebrate his return.

She believes he’ll motivate both himself and his approximately 2,000 supporters. They’ll likely feel encouraged, as if they’ve overcome another challenge against Donald Trump and the country, leading to a significant celebration. They’ll see his return as a victory and expect him to become even more assertive.

In what was likely the most moving part of her statement, Barr expressed sadness that her role as a pioneer for women in comedy is now remembered differently than she believes it should be.

She expressed frustration at being overlooked, saying, “It’s actually funny to me that I’ve been completely left out of the story of feminism. I’m never included when people talk about women who broke ground in media, or really, in anything these days.”

This isn’t the language of someone who’s accepted what happened. Barr still firmly believes she was treated unfairly, and she sees the situation with Kimmel as further proof of that.

What Happened to Roseanne?

In 2018, Roseanne Barr lost her show and career after ABC canceled her revived sitcom, *Roseanne*. This came after she posted a tweet about Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to President Obama, which many people considered to be racist. Barr has stated she didn’t realize Jarrett was a person of color when she made the comment.

The reaction was immediate and widespread. Advertisers quickly pulled their support, and Disney CEO Bob Iger and ABC decided to cancel a very popular TV show. A continuation of the show, called *The Conners*, continued without Roseanne Barr, and she hasn’t worked in Hollywood since.

She has claimed in the past that President Obama directly contacted Bob Iger and asked for her to be fired, a story she’s told repeatedly as proof of political meddling.

What Happened to Kimmel?

Okay, so picture this: it’s 2025, and Jimmy Kimmel is on TV making this claim that the guy accused of attacking Charlie Kirk was a Trump supporter. But the police evidence at the time actually told a completely different story. They found bullet casings with what looked like ‘anti-fascist’ writing on them, the accused’s partner was a transgender woman, and his writings definitely didn’t lean conservative. It was just… a really strange situation where what Kimmel said didn’t match the facts that were coming out.

In other words, Kimmel was spreading outright misinformation in front of millions of viewers.

ABC briefly took *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* off the air in response to a controversy. When the show came back, Kimmel didn’t offer a direct apology. Instead, he became emotional, criticized President Trump and the Federal Communications Commission, and steered the focus back to his own perspective.

Although Disney reinstated Kimmel quickly, many local TV stations weren’t convinced. Stations owned by Nexstar and Sinclair still aren’t broadcasting his show, and they won’t until they’re sure he’ll have a productive conversation with them.

The Double Standard

Here’s the striking contrast: Roseanne Barr lost her show, her career, and faced lasting public condemnation for one offensive tweet. Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel made false claims on national TV about a politically charged tragedy and faced only a five-day suspension, even receiving support from many in Hollywood.

Barr’s statement was insensitive, but Kimmel’s actions were far more damaging. Despite this, Barr faced severe consequences while Kimmel continues to be favored by ABC.

This is, as she said, the very definition of a double standard.

The Bottom Line

Roseanne Barr believes there’s a double standard at play, and many agree. While ABC and Disney say they have rules for conduct, the consequences for stars who break those rules seem lenient – more like a temporary break than real punishment. Even local stations are taking a stricter approach than the network itself.

This makes you wonder: who truly controls what we see on TV? Is it the major networks based in New York and Los Angeles, or the local stations that connect directly with viewers?

For Barr, the answer is already clear — and she’s making sure the world knows it.

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2025-09-24 19:57