Roseanne Barr Responds to Michael Fishman’s Comments on ‘Roseanne’ Cancellation
The feud between Roseanne Barr and Michael Fishman runs deeper than your typical sitcom family drama. Fishman, who portrayed D.J. Conner, the youngest child of Barr’s character, grew up on screen with the show that catapulted her to fame. He remained with ‘Roseanne’ from its ABC debut in 1988 through the 2018 revival and later joined its spin-off.
The revival initially received strong reviews and ratings but quickly fell apart. ABC canceled it following Barr’s racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, where she compared her to an ape. The network then rebranded the series as ‘The Conners’ without Barr, which ran for seven seasons before concluding in 2025.
Last month, years of pent-up frustration came to a head. Fishman shared an Instagram video responding to a follower who claimed Barr was merely making typical comedian jokes and that America had turned against her. He labeled such comments as ignorant and inaccurate, stating he had quietly dealt with them for over eight years, arguing that ignoring the issue was no longer effective.
He emphasized that freedom of speech carries responsibilities and consequences, asserting that in this instance, there was no joke, only dehumanizing harm. He concluded that the show’s cancellation was justified. Fishman also expressed that he still cares for Barr and believes that even good people can err.
On Wednesday, TMZ reported that Barr had finally responded to Fishman. During an appearance on the ‘Can’t Be Censored’ podcast, she was asked about his remarks and unleashed a profanity-laden tirade. She insulted him, claimed he was clueless about the original controversy, and accused him of lacking geopolitical understanding.
Barr also asserted that Fishman only remained in the revival because she advocated for his inclusion after producers wanted to let him go. She dismissed the more affectionate part of his message and told him not to invoke her name. A two-minute-and-sixteen-second clip of the interview has been circulating on social media.
Roseanne Barr goes nuclear on Michael Fishman for saying show was rightfully canceled.
🎥: Can’t Be Censored pic.twitter.com/3Anxrtgeyv
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 23, 2026
Barr’s comments about context echo her defense since 2018. She stated in a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity that her tweet was aimed at holding the Iran deal accountable, which she attributed to Jarrett, rather than being racially motivated. Fishman, however, has maintained that no political context can justify her remarks.
This disagreement is not new. In May 2018, shortly after the cancellation, Fishman condemned Barr’s tweet and expressed his devastation over the show’s end. Barr responded by saying she created a platform for inclusivity and accused him of betraying her, to which he replied that her tweet was so out of character given the show’s foundation of inclusiveness.
The following day, Barr claimed to have forgiven Fishman and Sara Gilbert but wished they had reached out privately instead of airing their grievances publicly. However, that brief reconciliation did not last.
This ongoing rift has had tangible career repercussions for Fishman as well. His character was ultimately written out of ‘The Conners’ in 2022, and he was not mentioned in the series finale. At that time, he told People magazine that it was an honor to portray the role for so long and expressed love for everyone involved in the production.
Fans of the original sitcom have witnessed this saga unfold over the years, and reactions to each new development tend to divide along familiar lines. Some support Fishman’s call for accountability, while others echo the sentiments of the commenter who prompted his video. Regardless, it seems unlikely that any talk of a reunion will survive this latest exchange.
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