Michael Fishman slams Roseanne Barr, demanding a formal apology

**Michael Fishman Fires Back at Roseanne Barr’s Podcast Takedown**

Roseanne Barr’s latest podcast episode sparked a sharp backlash when her co‑star, Michael Fishman, released a lengthy Instagram video the following day. In the clip, the 44‑year‑old actor dismissed Barr’s accusations as “obvious lies and name calling” and called for a public apology or retraction from the former star.

The exchange follows a history of tension that began with Barr’s controversial tweets in 2018, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the “Roseanne” reboot.

Fishman opened his video by acknowledging the public’s appetite for a response. “I know everybody wants a response,” he said, and thanked Barr for “finally admitting the public truth” that he had reached out to her the morning after her incendiary tweets.

He reiterated his condemnation of those tweets at the time and highlighted his continued role on the long‑running spinoff “Conners,” noting that he remained on the show with Sara Gilbert, John Goodman and other former cast members—Barr excluded.

## Background & Context

The drama erupted when Barr’s 2018 tweets, widely criticized for their racist content, prompted ABC to cancel the planned “Roseanne” reboot. Fishman, who portrayed D.J. Conner on the series, was among the first to contact Barr after the incident, offering what he described as compassion and respect.

His subsequent involvement in “Conners,” a “Can’t Be Censored”‑style show, kept him in the spotlight while Barr’s career continued to stall.

In his Instagram video, Fishman referenced his efforts to maintain open communication with Barr. “I gave you respect and asked for clarity. I never turned my back.

I showed you compassion even though I vehemently disagreed with you,” he recounted. He also noted that his experience on the show has been largely private, suggesting he may need to address it publicly in the future.

## What People Are Saying

Barr’s response came in a blistering podcast segment where she labeled Fishman a “f‑king worm,” “brainwashed bigot,” and “f‑king putz.” She did so after Fishman had defended her removal from the show, arguing that her tweets were “damaging and dehumanizing.” In a separate Instagram Reel,

Fishman said that “perpetuating racial tropes leads to real‑world consequences” and pledged to keep his compassion toward Barr intact.

Fishman’s own words called for a retraction or apology: “I might have to fix that soon,” he said. He also added, “I set healthy boundaries with the actress and added, ‘I’m living something publicly a lot of you have been navigating privately.’” His caption promised to “trust in the work [and] walk with integrity.”

Jake Pentland, Barr’s son, added fuel to the fire by slamming Fishman to. Pentland accused him of preventing Barr from publicly defending herself and of conspiring to take the revival away. The claims were made without any accompanying evidence in the source material.

Barr’s representative has not yet responded to inquiries about the ongoing dispute, leaving the public to piece together the story from social‑media posts and video snippets.

## What Happens Next

Fishman has requested a formal retraction or apology from Barr before reconciling with her “rage, hate and alienation.” He emphasized that he does not feel obligated to accept the fight simply because others have lashing out. The actor plans to set healthy boundaries while staying true to his public commitments.

There is no indication that either party will issue a formal statement beyond what has already been posted on social media. Both Fishman and Barr have expressed a willingness to continue speaking publicly about their experiences, but no concrete timeline for a resolution or reconciliation has emerged.

The conflict remains in the public eye as fans and observers await further developments from either side. The next steps will likely involve more video posts, potential court filings, or press releases, but for now the dispute sits squarely in the realm of social‑media exchanges.