Valerie Jarrett Speaks Out About Roseanne Tweet, Call From Disney CEO Bob Iger

Former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett appeared on an MSNBC special Tuesday night, and spoke about the racist tweet leveled at her earlier in the day by Roseanne Barr.

The highly-anticipated special, titled “Everyday Racism in America” and hosted by Joy Reid, Al Sharpton and Chris Hayes, came the night that Barr, a comedian and actress, had her hit show cancelled by ABC over a racist tweet she wrote early Tuesday morning about Jarrett.

Jarrett revealed that Disney CEO Bob Iger reached out to her to apologize before ABC, which is owned by Disney, pulled the plug on Roseanne.

“I do and I want to mention that Bob Iger, who’s a CEO of Disney called me before the announcement,” Jarrett said. “He apologized. He said that he had zero tolerance for that sort of racist, bigoted comment, and he wanted me to know before he made it public that he was canceling the show.”

Jarrett also said that while she’s “fine,” she is “worried about all the people out there who don’t have a circle of friends and followers who come right to their defense.”

When asked by MSNBC host Chris Hayes whether she felt President Donald Trump — who has heralded Roseanne as a show for his base — has set the tone for such bigotry, Jarrett was diplomatic:

“Tone does start at the top, and we like to look up to our President and feel as though he reflects the values of our country. But I also think that every individual citizen has a responsibility too, and it’s up to all of us to push back. Our government is only going to be as good as we make it be,” she said.

Watch above, via MSNBC.

[image via screengrab]

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