- Jimmy Kimmel suggested on Twitter that "mental health issues" may be behind Roseanne Barr's racist comments.
- "The Roseanne I know could probably use some compassion and help right now," he wrote.
- People criticized Kimmel for suggesting mental illness causes racism.
- Barr herself appeared to blame the comments on the sleep drug Ambien.
- Kimmel still said the comments themselves were "indefensible."
Jimmy Kimmel criticized Roseanne Barr's series of racist comments Wednesday while coming to her defense, saying that she is "obviously not well does" and suggesting she has "mental health issues."
"Angrily attacking a woman who is obviously not well does no good for anyone," he wrote on Twitter. "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."
What @TheRealRoseanne said is indefensible, but angrily attacking a woman who is obviously not well does no good for anyone. 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.
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) May 30, 2018
On Tuesday, ABC canceled "Roseanne" after Barr posted a racist tweeted about Valerie Jarrett, an Obama administration advisor. Barr has a years-long history of making racist and inflammatory remarks.
Several critics said Kimmel was wrong to suggest mental illness could make someone racist.
What she said is indefensible but you’re going to defend her anyway? Mental illness, if that’s what this is, does not excuse racism. It is not synonymous with racism. And critique is not attack.
— roxane gay (@rgay) May 30, 2018
Come on, Jimmy. Don’t play the pity card, she has a long history of similar tweets. Mental illness doesn’t cause or excuse racism.
— SnorkletsMom (@SnorkletsMom) May 30, 2018
Racism is not a mental health issue.
— Ted Geoghegan (@tedgeoghegan) May 30, 2018
Mental health is not an excuse for the vile things she has and continues, even today, to retweet
— Ira (@ira) May 30, 2018
Barr herself seemed to blame Ambien, a sleep-inducing drug, for her racism on Wednesday, leading the company that produces it to point out that the drug's side effects don't include racism.
On "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," which also airs on ABC, Kimmel acknowledged Tuesday night that the cancellation of "Roseanne" was a blow to the network — but also criticized Barr's racist comments.
"[The tweet] did not sit well with ABC management," Kimmel said. "Or anyone with a brain, really."
Neither representatives for "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" nor a personal representative for Jimmy Kimmel immediately responded to INSIDER's request for comment.
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