5 Shocking Reasons Roseanne Barr Is NOT On The Conners: The Opioid Crisis, The Ghost Cameo, And Her Latest Reaction

The question of why Roseanne Barr is not on The Conners is one of television’s most dramatic and highly publicized controversies of the last decade. As of December 2025, the definitive answer remains a complex tapestry woven from a real-life firing, a shocking in-show death, and the comedian’s own recent, candid reactions to the spin-off that continued without her.

The original Roseanne revival was a massive ratings success in 2018, but the celebration was short-lived. The series was abruptly canceled, and a new show, The Conners, was launched, leaving the matriarch of the family conspicuously absent. The story of her departure involves a controversial social media post, a multi-million dollar settlement, and a narrative decision that stunned long-time fans of the working-class Conner family.

Roseanne Barr: A Brief Biography and Career Profile

Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer, best known for her groundbreaking, self-titled sitcom.

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• Full Name: Roseanne Cherrie Barr
• Born: November 3, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
• Career Start: Barr began her career in stand-up comedy in the 1980s, developing the persona of a "domestic goddess" who challenged traditional gender roles.
• Major Breakthrough: Roseanne (1988–1997). The show was a cultural phenomenon, praised for its realistic portrayal of a working-class American family.
• Key Achievements: She won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role as Roseanne Conner.
• Revival Success: The Roseanne revival in 2018 was a huge hit for ABC, drawing massive viewership before its sudden cancellation.

The Real Reason Roseanne Barr Was Fired from Her Own Show

The primary and undeniable reason for Roseanne Barr’s sudden departure from the show that bore her name stems from a controversial social media post she made in May 2018. The tweet, which contained racist remarks about former Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett, immediately drew widespread condemnation.

The Immediate Aftermath and ABC’s Decision

The backlash was swift and severe. ABC, the network airing the show, promptly canceled the highly successful Roseanne revival, stating that Barr’s comment was "abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values".

To allow the rest of the cast and crew to continue their jobs, a spin-off was quickly developed. Barr agreed to a settlement that relinquished her creative and financial involvement in the new series, paving the way for The Conners to be greenlit. This decision effectively separated the beloved Conner family characters from their controversial matriarch in a business and legal sense.

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How The Conners Killed Off the Roseanne Conner Character

With the show moving forward as The Conners, the writers faced the challenge of explaining the absence of the central character. They chose a final, dramatic, and emotionally charged exit for Roseanne Conner that addressed a major societal issue: the opioid crisis.

In the premiere episode of The Conners, the family discovers that Roseanne died from an accidental opioid overdose. This narrative choice was a significant, dark turn for the sitcom, moving the show into a more dramatic space and reflecting the real-life struggles of many working-class families across America.

The storyline revealed that Roseanne had been secretly hiding painkillers following a knee surgery, a plot point that had been introduced in the revival’s sole season. Dan Conner (John Goodman) and the rest of the family—including Darlene (Sara Gilbert), Becky (Lecy Goranson), and D.J. (Michael Fishman)—were left to grapple with the grief and anger of losing their matriarch to addiction.

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Roseanne Barr’s Latest Reaction to The Conners and the ‘Ghost’ Offer

Despite being written out of the show, Roseanne Barr has frequently commented on The Conners, offering fans and critics a glimpse into her feelings about the spin-off’s continuation. Her most recent comments, highlighted in her documentary Roseanne Is America, reveal a deep-seated frustration.

The Rejected ‘Ghost Cameo’

In a surprising revelation, Barr claimed she was approached by the producers of The Conners with an offer for a cameo appearance. However, this was not a return to life, but a proposition to appear as a "ghost" of her deceased character.

Barr staunchly rejected the offer, stating that she "can’t bear" to watch the show that she feels "didn't faze them to murder my character". This sentiment underscores her belief that the show’s decision to kill off Roseanne Conner was a personal and professional betrayal.

The Family’s Divided View on the Spin-Off

While Barr herself expresses difficulty watching the series, a more nuanced perspective emerged following the show’s series finale. Her son and representative, Jake Pentland, recently told TMZ that despite the controversial firing and feeling that his mother was "screwed over," the family is ultimately glad that The Conners was allowed to continue.

This admission reflects the complex reality: the spin-off provided continued employment and a creative outlet for the beloved cast members—including John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf (Jackie Harris), and Sara Gilbert—who were all integral to the original show’s success. It also allowed the Conner family story, which resonated with millions, to reach a conclusion, with the finale even paying tribute to the family’s love for their deceased matriarch.

What’s Next for Roseanne Barr?

Roseanne Barr has made it clear that her career is far from over. She continues to perform stand-up comedy and is actively developing a new television show. Barr described her new series idea as centering on a family that aims to "save America with guns, the Bible, petty crime, and alcoholism," suggesting a return to the edgy, politically charged humor she is known for.

The legacy of Roseanne and the existence of The Conners will forever be tied to Barr’s controversial exit. While the spin-off successfully created its own identity, it remains a powerful example of how a star’s off-screen actions can fundamentally alter the course of a major television franchise, leaving a void that the Conner family—and its audience—will never truly fill.