ABC Considers Continuing ROSEANNE Without Title Star

According to CNN, ABC executives are currently exploring options to extend the life of the canceled revival of the comedy Roseanne, following a racist social media rant by its title star.

According to the report, sources say the network is currently considering re-branding the show to center on the the character Darlene while eliminating ROSEANNE from the series.

ABC executives are expected to continue exploring alternative options for the series next week.

Hours after comedian ROSEANNE Barr apologized for posting racially charged tweets about businessman George Soros and former Obama administration adviser Valerie Jarrett, ABC announced the cancellation of "Roseanne." ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey called Barr's late-night Twitter tirade about Soros & Jarrett "abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values."

ICM Partners also dropped Barr as a client, stating, "We are all greatly distressed by the disgraceful and unacceptable tweet from ROSEANNE Barr this morning. What she wrote is antithetical to our core values, both as individuals and as an agency. Consequently, we have notified her that we will not represent her. Effective immediately, ROSEANNE Barr is no longer a client."

Comparing Jarrett to "an ape," tweeting that "Muslim brotherhood and planet of the apes had a baby=vj," Barr's tweet followed someone else's claiming that Jarret, who is African-American and was born in Iran and was one of President Obama's senior advisers, "helped hide a lot" of Obama's secrets. Tweets calling her rant racist were answered by Barr with "Muslims r NOT a race!"

Apologizing for her comments, Barr tweeted "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." She then added, "I am leaving Twitter."

Barr also attacked Chelsea Clinton, referring to her as Chelsea "Soros" Clinton and claiming that her husband was Soros' nephew, followed by "George Soros is a nazi who turned in his fellow Jews 2 be murdered in German concentration camps & stole their wealth, but we all mistakes, right Chelsea?" Clinton informed the TV star that, "My given middle name is Victoria. I imagine George Soros' nephews are lovely people. I'm just not married to one."

Soros' people were not happy responding with "He did not collaborate with the Nazis. He did not help round up people. He did not confiscate anybody's property. Such false allegations are insulting to the victims of the Holocaust, to all Jewish people and to anyone who honors the truth."

Wanda Sykes, who was a writer and consulting producer on the show, tweeted her resignation from the show saying "I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC."

"Roseanne" producer and actress Sara Gilbert tweeted "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."

Even Sean HANNITY commented that "It is an outrageous comment. She was right to apologize. She shouldn't have said it."

But it was too little, too late and the damage was already done. ABC did what many people are calling "the right thing."

Photo Credit: Robert Trachtenberg/ABC via Getty Images

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