Jordan Strauss / AP

Roseanne Barr, the star of ABC's popular revival of the sitcom Roseanne, has apologized after she compared former Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett to a monkey. In a tweet posted on Tuesday morning, Barr said the black senior adviser to President Obama was the "baby" of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood political party and Planet of the Apes. The tweet came in response to a conspiracy-laden thread alleging Jarrett had helped cover up CIA spying.

Twitter

After her racist remark drew criticism on Twitter, Barr defended her statement. "It's a joke," she wrote in response to a CNN reporter. "Muslims r NOT a race," she said in response to another user.

Late Monday night, Barr also tried to tie Chelsea Clinton to Democratic megadonor (and frequent conservative target) George Soros.

"Chelsea Soros Clinton," she tweeted, further alleging Clinton was married to Soros's nephew. She later alleged Soros, a prominent Jew, collaborated with the Nazis, something that is also untrue. Barr's Soros tweets were later re-tweeted by Donald Trump Jr. A Soros spokesperson told the New York Times the comments were insulting to all Jews.

Twitter

Representatives for ABC and Barr did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Shortly after this story was first published, Barr tweeted an apology and said she would leave Twitter. It was not clear if she was leaving Twitter permanently. She then wrote a follow-up tweet with a more detailed apology.

I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter.

I apologize 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.

Amid the fallout, comedian Wanda Sykes, who had worked as a consulting producer on the show, announced she would not be returning.

I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC.

Actor Sara Gilbert, who plays Darlene Conner on the show, condemned Barr's tweet as "abhorrent."

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.

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.