Tim Allen Defends Roseanne Barr’s Controversial Tweet: “That’s Not the Rosie I Know”

Someone is on Roseanne Barr‘s side! Tim Allen — her fellow big sitcom star — spoke out on the actresses’ controversial tweet that got her fired from her eponymous sitcom Roseanne and seemingly ruined her career. 

Back in May, Roseanne wrote in a since-deleted tweet, “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” about former President Barack Obama’s adviser Valerie Jarrett. The racist comment immediately caused an uproar in Hollywood, and now, months later, Tim is sharing his feelings on the matter.

“I go way back with Rosie and that’s not the Rosie I know. She was the most diverse and tolerant woman I’ve ever known for a long time. Whatever got in her head isn’t the Roseanne I know,” he shared at the Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills on Thursday, Aug. 2, according to EW.

“It’s a very icy time. I’ve been a comedian for 38 years and I’ve never seen it, like Lenny Bruce said at the Purple Onion, ‘We’ve gone backwards.’ There are things you can’t say. There are things you shouldn’t say. Who makes up these rules?” Tim added. “And as a stand-up comic, it’s a dangerous position to be in because I like pushing buttons. It’s unfortunate.”

But even though Tim has conflicting opinions, he’s neutral about ABC’s decision to cancel her show. “They had to do what they had to do and it’s their decision,” he said.

Since Roseanne’s highly-publicized firing, the 65-year-old actress has been very open about her regrets. “I made a mistake, obviously. It cost me everything, my life’s work,” she shared on the Fox News Channel show Hannity in late July. “I made a mistake and I’ve paid the price for it.”

She added, “I’ve apologized a lot. It’s been two months. I’ve apologized and explained and asked for forgiveness.” Since Tim has clearly accepted her apology, maybe he’ll cast her on his Last Man Standing reboot?