Roseanne Barr has been slammed for saying that ‘nobody died in the Holocaust’ and that it ‘should happen,’ years after she was canceled for racist tweets – as her son defends her and says she was being ‘sarcastic’.
The controversial comedian, 70, made the comments on a recent podcast with Theo Von – saying that ‘six million Jews should die right now because they cause all the problems in the world’.
She’s come under intense scrutiny for the comments, which were made in the context of comparing Holocaust deniers to election fraud deniers.
But other people – including her son Jake Pentland and Von himself – have doubled down and stated she was simply being sarcastic rather than antisemitic.
Barr, smoking a cigarette, said on the podcast: ‘Comics, we’re the last free speech art form. And as long as we’re performing things aren’t as bad as they could be.’
Controversial comedian Roseanne Barr, 70, made the comments on a recent podcast with Theo Von – saying that ‘six million Jews should die right now because they cause all the problems in the world’
Von posing with Barr after recording a podcast together
The Jewish comedian then started talking about election fraud: ’36 counties can give you 81 million votes. That’s a fact.’
Von, looking bewildered, asked: ‘So it wasn’t rigged?’
To which she responded in deadpan: ‘Of course not. 36 counties have 81 million people in them. See? That’s the truth. And don’t you dare say anything against it or you’ll be off YouTube, Facebook, Twitter.’
Von said: ‘It’s scary,’ before Barr reiterated: ‘And that is the truth.’
‘And nobody died in the Holocaust either. That’s the truth. It should happen. Six million Jews should die right now because they cause all the problems in the world, but it never happened!
Comedian Theo Von, whose podcast Roseanne was featured on, has doubled down and stated that her antisemitism was all sarcasm and satire
‘It never happened!’ she reiterated.
She then went on to talk about how the Jews ‘control Hollywood.’
Some people have pointed out that it was indeed dry humor as she was comparing Holocaust denial to denying that the 2020 election was stolen. Both issues are comments you aren’t allowed to say online without being canceled, it’s insinuated.
But regardless, the sentiments were branded antisemitic, reprehensible and irresponsible by her critics.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said: ‘Sarcasm or not, Roseanne Barr’s comments about Jews and the Holocaust are reprehensible and irresponsible. This isn’t funny.
‘And shame on Theo Von for letting it go unchallenged and instead diving into conspiracy theories about Jews and Hollywood.’
Another person said online: ‘Roseanne Barr is sickening. Denying the the Holocaust, and slaughter of 6M people is a testament of how broken and disgusting people are. There are no words.’
An a third added: ‘F**k her for saying this and just being who she is in general, f**k Theo Von for not immediately stopping her, f**k anyone who supports her.. this is unacceptable and wrong on every f***ing level.’
Another person, who seemed to be a fan of Von’s added: ‘Roseanne just going further down the trash rabbit hole so I can’t say I’m disappointed, given I had no expectations for that racist sack of s**t, but I at least thought Theo Von would be better than this dogs**t.’
Jake Pentland, Roseanne’s son, hit back and told TMZ: ‘We are embarrassed that people are stupid enough not to recognize Roseanne is being sarcastic. We think it’s funny that people are so stupid.
‘Let’s stop doing this clickbait s***, we need to focus on big problems in America. Focusing on out-of-context clips is what morons do.’
Theo Von, whose podcast Barr was on, wrote on Twitter: ‘This Roseanne Barr clip was sarcasm folks. A clip taken out of a long sarcastic rant she had during our chat.
‘Can we not recognize sarcasm anymore?
‘Here is the full clip of Roseanne Barr obviously using sarcasm and satire. She is a mensch and one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.’
After watching the entire clip in its context, some people online said they could understand that it was intended to be a joke – but still an unnecessary and unfunny one.
One person said: ‘Every time you see a clip going viral where someone looks like a monster, stop & take a breath. Then go find full context.
‘Most people are not monsters. Joke wasn’t funny imo [in my opinion] but obviously a JOKE. Theo is a real one for sticking his neck out while the mob is thirsty for blood.’
Another person added: ‘Yes, it is important to allow a radical statement to be given its full context. Barr is clearly speaking with the driest of dry sarcasm.
Some people have pointed out that it was indeed dry humor as she was comparing Holocaust denial to denying that the 2020 election was stolen. Both issues are comments you aren’t allowed to say online without being canceled, it’s insinuated
In 2018, Roseanne faced intense criticism after tweeting against President Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, who is black. The comic compared her to an ape
‘But it also proved she’s a rambling, barely intelligible weirdo. Her ‘joke’, such as it is (& in context), is still deathly unfunny.’
But others still believe that the situation, despite the alleged joking intent, was not okay.
Journalist Ed Krassenstein said: ‘To all of the people defending Roseanne Barr’s comments saying: “Nobody died in the Holocaust. It should happen. Six millions Jews SHOULD die right now, because they cause all the problems in the world.” I don’t care if it was a joke.
‘I don’t care if it was sarcasm. I don’t care if Roseanne is Jewish.
‘I don’t care if Roseanne were to be God. Joking about Jewish people dying in the holocaust and sarcastically saying that Jewish people should die, is NOT OK.
‘It never is and never will be. PERIOD.
‘If you think it is, then you need to reevaluate your sense of humor and your respect for humanity.’
Another person said: ‘Mullet headed douchebag Theo Von just sitting there giggling as his guest Roseanne Barr says no Jewish people died in the Holocaust, but we should exterminate 6 million Jews today….’
In 2018, Roseanne faced intense criticism after tweeting against President Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, who is black. The comic compared her to an ape.
