Valerie Jarrett thinks Roseanne Barr’s inflammatory Tuesday comments are a “teaching moment” for the country.
Barr’s ABC sitcom was canceled by the network after she tweeted Jarrett was a product of the Muslim Brotherhood and “Planet of the Apes,” and the former Obama adviser said Tuesday that every American citizen has the responsibility to “push back” on such racially-charged comments.
“This should be a teaching moment,” Jarrett said in response to the controversy in a preview of MSNBC’s “Everyday Racism in America,” which airs Tuesday at 9 p.m.
BREAKING @ValerieJarrett responds to Roseanne Barr’s tweet, saying Disney’s chairman called her before announcing that ABC was canceling the show: “This should be a teaching moment.” pic.twitter.com/s6A4OV6pB0
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 29, 2018
The cable news network also reported Disney chairman and CEO Robert Iger, who oversees ABC’s programming, called Jarrett prior to the announcement that “Roseanne” would be canceled over the tweet.
“Tone does start at the top and we like to look up to our president and feel as though he reflects the values of our country, but I also think every individual citizen has a responsibility too. And it’s up to all of us to push back,” Jarrett said in another clip.
[Related: Trump blamed in wake of Roseanne, Starbucks racism]
“Our government is only going to be as good as we make it be. And as [Rev. Al Sharpton] always taught me, people on the inside have to push hard and people on the outside have to listen,” she added.
Earlier Tuesday, Barr tweeted, “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” in reaction to another user’s suggestion Jarrett helped former President Barack Obama hide secrets.
Barr apologized shortly afterwards, stating she was would be “leaving” the social media platform.
“I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans,” Barr wrote. “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 is an outspoken Trump supporter and voted for him in 2016. Her character on the reboot of her show was a vocal Trump supporter.
