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Every controversial step that led toward ABC's 'Roseanne' cancellation - from Pizzagate to Parkland to the final racist last straw

Travis Clark   

Every controversial step that led toward ABC's 'Roseanne' cancellation - from Pizzagate to Parkland to the final racist last straw

Roseanne

ABC

On Tuesday, ABC announced it had canceled its "Roseanne" revival, hours after star Roseanne Barr tweeted a racist comment in which she compared a black former Obama adviser to an ape.

That wasn't the first time Barr had made controversial comments, and because of that, the "Roseanne" reboot was always at risk.

But it was also ratings gold. The show returned in March after over 20 years to over 18 million viewers for its combined two-episode premiere.

As the weeks went by, viewership slightly decreased. By the beginning of this month, 10 million viewers had tuned in - a 43 percent decrease - and the show fell short of CBS' "NCIS" for the first time. But it was still the most popular scripted show of the year so far, and for ABC to cancel it so abruptly meant Barr's comments finally crossed a line.

ABC bet on Trump supporters sticking with the program: Barr is an outspoken supporter herself, and her character on the show is, as well. ABC executives even said the show was a direct result of President Trump's victory in the 2016 election, and part of the network's strategy in attracting Trump supporters.

That gamble doesn't seem to have paid off.

Barr's tweet on Tuesday may have been the straw that broke the camel's back, but there's a lot to understand about how exactly "Roseanne" came to an end.

Below is everything you need to know about the "Roseanne" cancellation:

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