Roseanne's TV Son Reacts to Her Attack, Calls for Apology

Michael Fishman says he's not taking Roseanne Barr's bait. In an Instagram video posted on Thursday, the actor who played DJ Conner on Roseanne pushed back after Barr labeled him a "brainwashed bigot" and hurled other insults toward him on a recent Can't Be Censored podcast, reports USA Today. Calling her comments "obvious lies and name-calling," Fishman, 44, said he reached out to Barr in 2018 after her racist tweet about Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett that led ABC to scrap the hit revival. "I gave you the respect of asking for clarity," he said, adding that he showed her "compassion" despite "vehemently" disagreeing with her.

Fishman suggested Barr's new attacks reveal "a glimpse into the darker side" of his childhood on the sitcom and hinted he may eventually share more about that experience. He asked Barr for a retraction or apology and said he's set "healthy boundaries" with his former co-star, stressing in his Instagram caption that he chooses to "live, work, create, and share love" and "walk with integrity." Barr, who has long argued her 2018 tweet was a misunderstood "bad joke," maintains that Fishman never listened to her explanation and claims she was responsible for his inclusion in the revival that preceded the Roseanne spinoff The Conners.