Fact Check: Did Jimmy Kimmel say ABC’s 2018 decision to fire Roseanne Barr was the ‘right call’?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A rumor has been circulating on social media, claiming late-night host Jimmy Kimmel supported comedian Roseanne Barr’s 2018 firing.

After ABC and parent company Disney hit pause on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' over his jokes about President Donald Trump’s administration and its response to the September 10 killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, some users online began recycling an old claim that Kimmel had once cheered Barr’s firing, calling it the “right call.” But is there any truth to it? Let’s find out.

Claim: Jimmy Kimmel called Roseanne Barr’s 2018 firing the ‘right call’

On September 22, Disney announced that Kimmel’s talk show would return to the air the very next day.

Soon after, Instagram posts, blogs, and even memes began circulating a supposed quote attributed to Kimmel from May 29, 2018.

“And ABC, to their credit, didn't waste any time; they canceled her show today," the alleged statement read. "I'm not a fan of censorship but this wasn't about free speech…it was about consequences for saying something vile. You can say what you want, but networks don't have to pay you to say it… You can't just blame Ambien for that. Actions have consequences, and ABC made the right call.”  

Fact Check: False, no evidence to back the viral claim

It all traces back to May 28, 2018, when Roseanne Barr posted a racist jab at former President Barack Obama aide Valerie Jarrett, comparing her to an ape. ABC pulled the plug on Barr almost immediately, despite it being their highest-rated show.

Kimmel did weigh in on his late-night show the next day, but not with the “right call” quote being passed around.

“You're not going to believe this but [Barr] tweeted something outrageous," he said on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!.' "I know, yeah, right. The president [Trump] did it too. It's crazy. Anyway, ABC decided to cancel their highest rated show Roseanne following a tweet in which Roseanne compared an African-American woman, a former advisor to President Obama, to an ape, which did not sit well with ABC management or anyone with a brain."

"They announced this first season of the show is also its last. Which is a huge blow to — I mean we don't have much on this network. We're hoping the NBA finals goes 11 games this year. We're still airing 'America's Funniest Home Videos,' okay. Roseanne was a bigly hit for ABC and we need it. Hear me out. Just because Roseanne is gone, doesn't mean the show has to go. The show must go on, that's what we say in show business. And with that said, I have an idea I think makes this work for everyone," Kimmel added.

He even aired a spoof version of the sitcom focusing on Dan (John Goodman’s character) instead of Barr. 

But the supposed smoking-gun “ABC made the right call” quote doesn’t exist. Snopes reviewed transcripts, clips, and news reports and found nothing.

Jimmy Kimmel’s real take and the ongoing drama with Disney

Outside of his show, Kimmel also spoke up on social media.

“What [Barr] said is indefensible, but angrily attacking a woman who is obviously not well does no good for anyone," he posted on X at the time. "Please take a breath and remember that mental health issues are real. The Roseanne I know could probably use some compassion and help right now.”

So while he called her tweet “indefensible,” he didn’t exactly applaud ABC for dropping her.

When Disney temporarily benched Kimmel’s show over his cracks about Trump’s crew and Kirk’s killing, Barr herself chimed in on X. “Yeah imagine an administration putting pressure on a television channel to fire a comedian they didn't like," she posted. However, it’s worth noting that Barr was fired back in 2018, when her ally Trump was in the Oval Office.

Disney explained their temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!:

“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production [of Jimmy Kimmel Live!] to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive."

The company said, "We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on September 23.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.