Michael Fishman Speaks Out on 'Roseanne' Cancellation: "Words Have Real-World Consequences"

In a heartfelt social media post, former child star Michael Fishman—best known for his role as DJ Conner in the beloved sitcom Roseanne—addressed the controversy that led to the show's cancellation back in 2018. Fishman shared a comment on Instagram Monday, discussing the years-old debacle that saw Roseanne Barr fired from her own reboot series following a series of racially charged tweets. The actor's response came amidst a resurgence of discussions about racial insensitivity in entertainment and society at large. "The reboot was canceled due to Roseanne's offensive jokes, but America turned on Roseanne," the comment read, referencing the comedian's controversial tweets comparing former President Barack Obama's advisor Valerie Jarrett to an "ape." Fishman, now 44, responded directly to the comment in a passionate video, admitting that he has been dealing with similar sentiments for over eight years. "After eight years, turning the other cheek isn't helping," he said, expressing his frustration at the ongoing discourse surrounding Barr's actions. He went on to address those who believe Barr was unfairly targeted, stating, "Those justifications are leading to real consequences. Real crimes." Fishman referenced recent tragedies involving the deaths of Black Americans Tasia Fortune, Trey Reed, and Nolan Wells, emphasizing that dehumanizing people is never a joke. Fishman acknowledged that "good people make mistakes," but stressed that Barr's tweets were not a jest. "There was no joke. There was only damage and dehumanization—and perpetuating racial tropes leads to real-world consequences." The actor concluded his commentary by urging individuals to think before they speak, stressing the importance of understanding the impact of their words: "Be smart enough to just shut the hell up. Don't finish the statement, don't hit send, and certainly don't rage against anybody else." Fishman captioned his post, "[The show] taught me to believe in humanity…Now I am building bigger." His message serves as a reminder that the entertainment industry has a responsibility to promote understanding and combat racism, even in the face of controversy. Roseanne Barr's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday evening. Back in 2018, Barr addressed her tweets multiple times, insisting they were politically motivated rather than racially charged.