Roseanne Barr has drawn criticism from the Anti-Defamation League for comments she made about the Holocaust during a recent podcast appearance. In a tweet Tuesday, the group’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, said Barr’s comments doubting the Holocaust, even if they were made in jest, are deplorable.
“Sarcasm or not, Roseanne Barr’s comments about Jews and the Holocaust are reprehensible and irresponsible,” he wrote. “This isn’t funny. And shame on (podcast host) Theo Von for letting it go unchallenged and instead diving into conspiracy theories about Jews and Hollywood.”
Here’s what to know about Barr’s controversy, which stems from her appearance on the podcast “This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von” on June 13.
Roseanne Barr has drawn criticism from Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt for comments she made about the Holocaust during a recent podcast appearance.
What did Roseanne Barr say about the Holocaust?
While speaking with Von about online censorship, Barr, who is Jewish, brought up Holocaust denial, after claiming that social media sites censored those who questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.
Barr suggested that such sites forced users to agree with “proven truth” that, in her view, was false: the election was legitimate, or that nobody died in the Holocaust.
“There’s such a thing as the truth and facts, and we have to stick to it, and that is the truth,” she said, quoting deniers: “Nobody died in the Holocaust, either. That’s the truth. It should happen. Six million Jews should die right now, because they cause all the problems in the world, but it never happened.”
Sarcasm or not, Roseanne Barr’s comments about Jews and the Holocaust are reprehensible and irresponsible. This isn’t funny. And shame on Theo Von for letting it go unchallenged and instead diving into conspiracy theories about Jews and Hollywood.
Barr also suggested Jewish people have substantial influence on the entertainment industry, adding that “people should be glad that (Hollywood)’s Jewish too, because if Jews were not controlling Hollywood, all you’d have was … fishing shows.”
How have people reacted?
Barr trended on Twitter Tuesday, with many users criticizing her as antisemitic while others defended her comments as sarcastic humor.
Journalist Brian Krassenstein wrote that the “Nazis would be proud” of Barr’s comments.
“I don’t often call for the cancelling of anyone,” he added. “I think it rarely serves a purpose, but when she got in front of an audience and said that ‘6 million Jews should die,’ I will happily call for Roseanne Barr to be cancelled.”
“I have no words,” @VABVOX wrote.
“She’s become absolutely vile,” @MichaelJStern1 wrote.
“Roseanne Barr is NOT a Holocaust denier,” @Rangeneration33 wrote. “It’s just her deadpan delivery that made antisemitic people & her haters think she meant it.”
Von wrote that Barr’s outrageous comments were her “obviously using sarcasm and satire.”
“She is a mensch and one of the funniest people i’ve ever met,” he added.
What has Roseanne Barr said in the past?
A “Roseanne” revival was canceled by ABC in 2018, hours after Barr made racist comments on Twitter about former President Barack Obama’s White House advisor Valerie Jarrett.
“Roseanne” returned to ABC in March 2018, two decades after it ended its first run from 1988 to 1997, reuniting the original cast including Goodman, Laurie Metcalf and Sara Gilbert. A spinoff, “The Conners,” aired later that year, focusing on the family after the series killed off Barr’s character.
Barr made several apologies on social media following the cancellation of “Roseanne.”
“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,” Barr tweeted. “I made a mistake I wish I hadn’t but…don’t defend it please. ty.”
