Roseanne Barr: Celebrities react with outrage to actor's racist Twitter rant as ABC cancels show

The actress-comedian has been heavily criticised on social media and reprimanded by ABC

Celebrities have posted their reactions to news that hit show Roseanne will be cancelled after the main star - Roseanne Barr - tweeted a racist rant.

Actress Sara Gilbert, who plays Darlene Conner on Roseanne, tweeted, "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. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least."

She added: "This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us, as we've created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love - one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member."

Director Ava DuVernay tweeted a photo of ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey praising her for cancelling the show.

Meanwhile, producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes applauded ABC for its decision: "But honestly she got what she deserved. As I tell my 4 year old, one makes a choice with one’s actions. Roseanne made a choice. A racist one. ABC made a choice. A human one."

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough wrote: "BREAKING: @ABC and @Disney do the right thing. There are still boundaries in the Age of Trump that cannot be crossed. Thank you for putting values above money."

Dungey issued a statement on Tuesday delivering news of the series' termination saying, "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show."

Barr - who has been an outspoken supporter of President Trump - went on a bizarre, racist Twitter rant earlier in the day comparing President Obama's White House adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape and linking her to the Islamist organisation Muslim Brotherhood.

"Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj," Barr wrote in response to a tweet alleging Jarrett helped cover up incidents in the Obama administration.

Twitter users quickly pointed out that the actress-comedian's tweet seemed racist, to which the celebrity replied, "Muslims r NOT a race."

She later said her first tweet about Jarrett was "a joke."

The tweets have since been deleted and Barr issued an apology to Jarrett saying, "I apologise 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."

Barr also announced that she would be quitting Twitter.

Many celebrities voiced their outrage following Barr's rant.

"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 tweeted.

Roseanne's head writer Wanda Sykes wrote that she wouldn't be returning to the sitcom for its second season following Barr's tweet.

Actor-comedian Kumail Nanjiani tweeted sarcastically, "A big thanks to everyone who brought Roseanne back into our lives."

In the same tweet storm, Barr also issued an apology to Chelsea Clinton whom she dubbed "Chelsea Soros Clinton," alleging Clinton was married to a nephew of George Soros whom Barr referred to as a "racist" and "nazi" in a separate tweet.

Clinton replied to Barr stating her middle name was "Victoria" and saying she isn't "married to one" of Soros' nephews.

Following Barr's apology, she took aim at Clinton once again writing she was "married to a son of a corrupt senator."

Barr has yet to issue a statement about the cancellation of her hit sitcom.