Roseanne Barr torches Barack Obama after his anti-Trump rant in wake of Jimmy Kimmel's suspension
WASHINGTON, DC: Comedian Roseanne Barr took a jab at former President Barack Obama after he slammed the Trump administration following ABC’s suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
Kimmel's show 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' was pulled by ABC after he remarked that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old shooter of Charlie Kirk, was a MAGA conservative and joked about President Donald Trump.
Remember when you and your wife called Bob Iger to have me fired? https://t.co/w5BcJ1bsLC
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) September 18, 2025
Barack Obama accuses Donald Trump administration of coercion
Following Kimmel’s suspension, Barack Obama posted on X criticizing the Trump administration.
“After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like,” Obama wrote.
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like. https://t.co/uts7JpJZzN
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 18, 2025
He continued, “This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent — and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.
This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent — and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it. https://t.co/gOjqFnGv0I
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 18, 2025
Roseanne Barr recalls 2018 firing
In response, Barr pointed to her own experience, accusing the Obamas of influencing ABC executives to cancel her show in 2018.
During a 2019 interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, Barr alleged that Michelle Obama personally pressured Disney and ABC executives to terminate her. Former ABC president Channing Dungey, who oversaw her firing, later worked with the Obamas at Netflix.
Barr admitted her tweet about Valerie Jarrett was “stupid,” but said it was meant to highlight the Obama administration’s ties with Iran. She argued her removal was not just about one post but about silencing a Trump supporter.
ABC executives reveal fear of retaliation
According to a report, many ABC executives believed Jimmy Kimmel had not crossed editorial lines. However, top officials suspended him out of fear of retaliation from the Trump administration.
Hours before ABC announced Kimmel’s suspension, executives at ABC, its parent company Disney, and affiliate stations held emergency meetings to prepare for the fallout.
Two sources told Rolling Stone that “several execs believe Kimmel said nothing over the line,” but fear of government backlash ultimately won out.
Raise your hand ✋️ if you want @ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel for saying a MAGA conservative was who assassinated Charlie Kirk
— @Chicago1Ray 🇺🇸 (@Chicago1Ray) September 17, 2025
This cannot go unpunished.... Fire Jimmy Kimmel...
pic.twitter.com/XHkFITIfaY
An ABC insider described the atmosphere, saying, “They were pissing themselves all day.”
Nexstar, which owns ABC affiliates, later announced, “Nexstar’s owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will preempt 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight’s show.”
ABC also released a statement on Wednesday, September 17: “Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets."
