Roseanne Barr claims racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett was actually condemning anti-Semitism
The actress-comedian wrote that her offensive tweet referred to 'the anti-Semitism of the Iran deal'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Actress and comedian Roseanne Barr is now claiming that her racist tweet about former Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett was actually denouncing anti-Semitism.
Just as the dust was settling on the row, Barr tweeted on Wednesday night, referring back to the offensive remarks that persuaded ABC to cancel her the recent reboot of her eponymous hit series on May 29.
"Rod Serling wrote Planet of The Apes," Barr tweeted, referencing the writer of the 1968 science-fiction film.
"It was about anti-Semitism," she continued. "That is what my tweet referred to - the anti Semitism of the Iran deal."
She then cited the nuclear agreement from which President Trump withdrew: "Low IQ ppl can think whatever they want."
In the now-deleted racist tweet that prompted the cancellation of Roseanne, Barr referred to Jarrett, who is African-American, as the "Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby = vj."
The 65-year-old actress also falsely claimed that Chelsea Clinton married billionaire George Soros' nephew.
She then proceeded to call Soros a "Nazi" who "turned in his fellow Jews."
Following the backlash, Barr blamed her erratic tweets on the sleep medicine Ambien.
On Wednesday, Barr tweeted that she was doing "fine" and was using "this time to reflect," saying that she's "never practised 'racism'" in her life.
She also wrote she has been watching the Thomas Muhammad-directed documentary Malcom X: An Overwhelming Influence on the Black Power Movement saying that the director had called her "immediately" when Roseanne was cancelled.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
"Thomas Muhammad has agreed to speak for me, as he knows the work I have done in civil rights against racism ALL MY LIFE & understands my tweet was about Iran’s regime, not race - the website is: http://www.bbunity.com," she tweeted.
Barr also urged followers to listen to Kanye West's new album YE saying "it's the greatest thing ever" and told fans that she now sleeps a lot without Ambien
She concluded: "Guys, I have been planting trees digging in the earth singing and feeling a great deal of relief I will begin to speak for myself in media soon."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments