Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, the executive producer of the original "Roseanne" and the reboot of the show that was canceled by ABC after the uproar over a racist tweet by series star Roseanne Barr, released a statement supporting the network's decision.
The statement:
“I support ABC's decision to cancel the show in the wake of Roseanne Barr's most recent reprehensible tweets. Our goal was to promote constructive discussion about the issues that divide us. It represented the work of hundreds of talented people. I hope the good work done is not totally eclipsed by these abhorrent and offensive comments, and that Roseanne seeks the help she so clearly needs.”
In a since deleted-tweet, Barr compared Valerie Jarrett, an African-American who is a former advisor to President Barack Obama, to an ape: “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” Barr said in a now-deleted tweet.
Barr apologized Tuesday for the tweet and said she deleted her Twitter account. It was reactivated later Tuesday and she later tweeted that the medication Ambien may have been a factor in her behavior: "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."
Werner had a successful career as a producer of such television shows as "Roseanne", "The Cosby Show" and "That 70s Show" before joining the ownership group that bought the Red Sox in 2002.