Roseanne Barr Says She “Can’t Bear” to Watch ‘The Conners,’ Claims They Wanted Her To “Commit Suicide”

While promoting her upcoming Fox comedy special, Roseanne Barr: Cancel This!, Roseanne Barr got candid about being ousted from ABC’s Roseanne revival and having her show replaced with The Conners. The comedian stated that she “can’t bear” to watch the show and accused them of manipulating her real-life mental health struggles. 

In an interview with Los Angeles Times, Barr was asked if she’s ever watched the Sara Gilbert-led spin-off that was greenlit by ABC after Roseanne was canceled following her’s racist comments.

“No. I just can’t bear it, so I don’t,” she answered. 

Barr went on to say, “When they killed my character off, that was a message to me, knowing that I’m mentally ill or have mental health issues, that they did want me to commit suicide.” 

The actor emphasized, “They killed my character, and my character. And all of that was to say thank you for bringing 28 million viewers, which they never had before and will never see again.” 

Barr left the network with a parting message, saying, “They can kiss my ass.” 

The comedian also reflected on how she was able to “come out on the other side” from the 2018 controversy. Barr expressed that she always wanted to revisit Roseanne “to tie up everything,” and she was able to remember “all the positives” of her long career. “I started thinking about all the positives of it, my work and the contribution I made to pop culture and television, its portrayal of a woman and her working-class family. They can’t take that away from me. They’ll probably try,” she said. 

And now, Barr says she’s “so happy” to be returning to stand-up in what she calls “the most offensive” act she’s ever done. 

Cancel This! is an hour-long comedy special that signifies Barr’s return to the stage for the first time in nearly 20 years. The special debuts exclusively on Fox Nation on February 13, 2023, and will feature the comedian’s take on growing up Jewish and raising her “privileged brood.” The special will be released along Who Is Roseanne Barr?, which will feature an “in-depth look” into Barr’s life and career.

In the teaser for the comedy special, Barr lets out a supervillain laugh and asks, “Has anybody been fired recently?” in reference to the controversy she sparked when she compared former President Barack Obama’s adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape. Following her comments, the Roseanne revival was canceled by ABC and later rebranded as The Conners, 

While chatting with Los Angeles Times, Barr also revisited the racist accusations and said she was denied an opportunity to explain herself and that she thought Jarrett was white. 

Roseanne Barr: Cancel This! streams Feb. 13 on Fox Nation.

If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988.