Roseanne Barr has asked fans not to defend her after her TV show was cancelled over racist tweets.

Comedian Barr, who is best known for starring in the American sitcom Roseanne, said in a now deleted tweet: "muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj".

The actress, 65, on Tuesday used African-American former White House aide Valerie Jarrett's initials in her reply to a tweet which accused Ms Jarrett of being involved in an Obama administration cover-up.

Image: Valerie Jarrett is a former Obama adviser

ABC Entertainment's president said the network has decided to cancel the reboot of her show.

"Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show," read a statement from Channing Dungey.


The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamist organisation and Planet of the Apes is a movie in which intelligent apes battle humans for control.

Barr, an outspoken supporter of President Trump, went on to tweet an apology following an online backlash accusing her of racism.

I understand it's a joke, but can you see why some people think comparing a black woman to Planet of the Apes might be racist and find the Muslim Brotherhood reference to be conspiratorial and Islamophobic? — andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) May 29, 2018

On Tuesday evening she claimed she was leaving Twitter but on Wednesday morning she tweeted again, asking people to "not defend me" as she did "something unforgivable".

The actress, whose original show ran from 1988 to 1997, then retweeted several commentators tweets about her ostracising herself and losing millions of dollars, as well as some who said her apology was not sincere.

guys I did something unforgiveable so do not defend me. It was 2 in the morning and I was ambien tweeting-it was memorial day too-i went 2 far & do not want it defended-it was egregious Indefensible. I made a mistake I wish I hadn't but...don't defend it please. ty — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018

She added: "i'm sorry 4 my tweet, AND I will also defend myself as well as talk to my followers. so, go away if u don't like it. I will handle my sadness the way I want to. I'm tired of being attacked and belittled more than other comedians who have said worse."

And she called on people to not boycott other ABC shows as "they have the right to do what they wish".

She also said Viacom has cancelled all re-runs of her original show.

In her original apology on Tuesday she said: "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."

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. — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018

She then tweeted that she was quitting the social media platform, writing: "I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter."

The backtrack was not enough for her colleague Wanda Sykes, however. The consulting producer on Roseanne tweeted that she would not be returning to the show.

I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC. — Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) 29 May 2018

Earlier on Tuesday, Barr retweeted a post in support of Tommy Robinson, the right-wing activist and former leader of the English Defence League.

"Democracy dies in silence. The Sun doesn't shine anymore. #FreeTommyRobinson," the post read, which included a link to the tabloid newspaper The Sun's website.

Robinson on Tuesday was jailed for 13 months after flouting court orders for a second time.