In an explosive tweet, comedian Roseanne Barr not only managed to blow up her career, she also took her ongoing feud with co-stars Sara Gilbert and Johnny Galecki to new levels – with the on-screen loves planning to start their own spin-off show without the matriarch.
After comparing a former White House official to an ape in a racist remark, the successful reboot of Roseanne was promptly dropped by Channel Ten and axed by America’s ABC, with the US network calling her post ‘abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values’.
Rumoured to have been at loggerheads with her TV mum, Sara – who plays Darlene – was also quick to distance herself from Roseanne.
‘Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least,’ she tweeted.
And Sara wasn’t the only co-star to share their disgust, with consulting producer Wanda Sykes quitting the show ahead of it being cancelled, and Emma Kenney – who plays Darlene’s daughter Harris – revealing she was ‘hurt, embarrassed, and disappointed’.
And while Sara has expressed her sadness over the show ‘we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love’ being cancelled, insiders claim she has already been plotting with her Roseanne co-star Johnny to start their own spin-off show.
The fresh claims follow recent reports that Sara and Roseanne were feuding behind the scenes over rumours Sara’s character was set to emerge as the new star of the show.
‘The two have been going at it over creative differences, particularly when it comes to political dialogue that is in the script,’ an insider told RadarOnline. ‘Sara and the rest of the cast put up with Roseanne’s behaviour for almost a decade. They are all thrilled that the show got picked up already for another season, but they do not know how they will get through this season if Roseanne continues to act the way that she is.’
If Sara gets her way, she will be able to revive Darlene without Roseanne, and with best friend Johnny by her side.
‘There’s just an indescribable chemistry between us,’ says Sara of Johnny. ‘It’s very rare, and you have it with certain people and you don’t have it with others, and we’re just so fortunate that we have it. He truly is like a member of my family.’
Insisting he come back for an appearance on the reboot, Sara is aware of the interest audiences have in the relationship between Darlene and Johnny’s character David Healy.
‘To me, it was so important [to get Johnny back for an episode],’ she told TVLine.
‘Our relationship was one of the central themes of Darlene’s life 20 years ago. And to leave it unanswered would be so unsatisfying to me personally and to the fans.’
When Sara pitched her idea to Johnny, insiders claim, with his time on The Big Bang Theory almost over, he jumped at it.
‘The truth of the matter is that life’s just too short to not work with people that you adore working with and spending time with,’ says Johnny of working with Sara, which has seen them collaborate on other projects such as The Big Bang Theory and Living Biblically.
Having got wind of her former co-star’s plans, a furious Roseanne is reportedly plotting to leak secret emails.
‘Roseanne feels completely betrayed by ABC executives and her co-stars,’ a source revealed to RadarOnline.
‘She’s telling people Sara and the others had told her behind the scenes that they will weather the storm…Now Roseanne plans to expose emails of their support.’
In a show of defiance, Roseanne went on a Twitter tirade shortly after swearing off social media. Reposting multiple messages from fans, the actress also added:
‘Don’t feel sorry for me, guys!! I just want to apologize to the hundreds of people, and wonderful writers (all liberal) and talented actors who lost their jobs on my show due to my stupid tweet…losing my show is 0 compared 2 being labelled a racist over one tweet – that I regret even more.’
But forgiveness from Sara is out of the question.
‘She thinks that Roseanne is a disgusting and racist person,’ a source told RadarOnline. ‘Sara will never, ever work with her again.’
For the full story see this weeks issue of New Idea – out now!
