Roseanne's comment about VT was totally inappropriate and rises to the level of "hate" speech. However, in this country we value the right to free speech, even when/if we make a total ass of ourself while exercising that right. What Roseanne said was vile, but she has the freedom of speech to say tasteless and offensive utterances.
The big question for me is whether an entire industry of workers deserve to lose their jobs because one person made an offensive comment on social media. I think not, and I believe the person who fired Roseanne acted in haste and now has to repent and fix the situation created with her firing. There is a small community that forms when a series is cast and then shot for TV, and that community of people does not deserve to be punished for what Roseanne did. Fire her if that's what you think is the best response to her hate speech, but don't punish the rest of the cast and crew.
I hope that someone will have the sense to walk that decision back and take another look at whether the response is appropriate based on how many others are punished by the decision to fire Roseanne. When cooler heads prevail, they may see that there are other actions that would have dealt with the offender, but not punish the rest of the employees.
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If it had been a one-off comment, I could see them asking her to go to rehab for it (like Michael Richards or Mel Gibson). But she has a 30+ year history of being a hateful, spiteful woman to a whole host of minorities and others. Firing her was likely the right choice.
Most of the people you refer to will not even blink before they are on another show or helping out on a movie set, so I'm not overly worried about them.
What people have to learn is that their rights end where my rights begin. People have forgotten that over the last 20 years or so and we are reaping the fallout of that now. Roseanne can say whatever she wants but her employers do not have to agree with it or stand for it. People have also forgotten that their right to free speech does not mean they do not or will not suffer consequences. Roseanne was reminded of that with her horrible comments.
Also, as a side note, apparently Roseanne is livid because they are, in fact, thinking about continuing the show -- just without her. They are considering turning the focus to one of the daughter characters on the show and then... just continuing on as if nothing happened. Might be a good way to keep the momentum of a popular show going without the worry of a star who cannot keep her mouth shut and has unpopular opinions that the others on the show and the network itself do not agree with.
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