“I Got My Whole Life Ruined”: Roseanne Barr Slams ABC Over Jimmy Kimmel’s Return
When ABC announced Jimmy Kimmel would return to the airwaves just six days after being suspended, many viewers applauded the move. But for comedian Roseanne Barr, the decision cut deep. To her, it was more than a programming update—it was proof of what she calls Hollywood’s selective justice.
Roseanne, once the face of a top-rated sitcom that bore her name, watched her career vanish overnight in 2018. Now, she’s speaking out, asking the question that many are quietly wondering: Why was Kimmel forgiven so quickly, while she was permanently erased?
Two Scandals, Two Outcomes
In a candid television interview Tuesday, Barr didn’t hold back.
“I got my whole life ruined. No forgiveness, all of my work stolen, and called a racist for time and eternity,” she said. “It just shows how they think. It’s a double standard.”
Barr is referring to her show’s cancellation in May 2018 after she tweeted that former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett looked like the result of the “Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes.” The backlash was immediate. ABC called the remark “abhorrent” and canceled Roseanne within hours. Though Barr apologized and deleted the tweet, the series was rebranded as The Conners—without her.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel was suspended after comments related to the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk stirred outrage online. Though ABC temporarily pulled the show, they stated that conversations with Kimmel helped resolve the issue, and he returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! less than a week later.
“Silencing Comedians Is Anti-American”
Kimmel, upon his return, denied mocking Kirk’s death, clarifying instead that his remarks were aimed at government overreach and the silencing of free speech.
“Silencing comedians is anti-American,” Kimmel said on air.
But to Roseanne, the damage of past choices isn’t so easily dismissed. She pointed to Kimmel’s old blackface sketches from the 1990s—something he apologized for in 2020—as another example of what she calls network hypocrisy.
“They protect him,” she said. “No one protected me.”
The Industry Pushback
ABC isn’t just facing heat from former stars. Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group, which collectively reach nearly a quarter of American households, have opted not to resume airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! for now. The rift between ABC and its affiliates highlights a deeper issue: tensions between content creators and those who distribute their work.
Still, ABC’s owned-and-operated stations resumed the show, standing behind Kimmel after his brief suspension.
Jimmy Kimmel calls out Donald Trump for trying to shut down his show
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) September 24, 2025
“He tried his best to cancel me. Instead he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly. He might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now … Our leader celebrates… pic.twitter.com/Uo05vqTqRq
Conclusion: A Culture of Unequal Consequences
To Roseanne Barr, this isn’t just about television. It’s about fairness, consistency, and how Hollywood decides who gets to come back—and who doesn’t. Her story and Kimmel’s are starkly different, but the larger question remains: When it comes to scandal, who gets a second chance—and why?
In an industry where public opinion can shift with a tweet and careers can vanish in a news cycle, one truth is increasingly clear: forgiveness in Hollywood isn’t guaranteed—and it’s not always fair.