Roseanne reboot boycotted by One Million Moms for gender fluid character

Embed from Getty Images

Back in May, ABC announced it was reviving late 80s-early 90s sitcom Roseanne, reuniting the cast for an eight-episode run. The series is set to reunite Roseanne Barr with her TV family, including John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Michael Fishman, Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke. Johnny Galecki hasn’t confirmed yet, as he’s still kind of busy with Big Bang Theory. Some new faces are joining the revival as well, and one casting call is drumming up some controversy.

First, the less controversial casting news. Deadline announced last week that Emma Kenney, who plays Debbie Gallagher on Showtime’s Shameless, is playing the daughter of Darlene and David (Sara Gilbert and Johnny Galecki). This is the daughter who arrived prematurely during the show’s ninth, and final, season. According to Entertainment Weekly, Emma’s character “recently arrived in Lanford, Illinois, after spending some time in Chicago, but she’s determined to make a better life for herself than her parents or grandparents.”

In addition to Emma’s character, another of Dan and Roseanne’s grandchildren will join and may be gender fluid. According to Showbiz411, the casting call for the role describes a character who would be “gender creative” and is seeking actors who could be “sensitive and effeminate” and display “qualities of both young female and male traits.”

Of course, some are offended at this news. Right wing organization One Million Moms (1MM), a division of the American Family Association, has launched a boycott against the new show and have set up a petition to encourage its members and followers to do the same. In a statement, the group asserts that the character promotes a “transgender agenda” and is “child exploitation at its worst.” The statement went on to accuse ABC of “glorifying gender dysphoria, also known as gender identity disorder, and using a child to promote this mental disorder.” Ugh.

This story made me cranky. Gender fluidity is not a mental disorder. Fortunately, the Huffington Post is on the same page as I am about introducing this kind of character on a network TV sitcom. They said:

Including a gender-fluid character on a mainstream show that will likely attract a large variety of viewers gives those who identify as gender-nonconforming a chance to see a character ― a role model or point of inspiration ― to which they can relate. It can also help that segment of the LGBTQ community a to be more visible and, as such, more accepted in a society where they experience verbal and physical abuse at disproportionate rates.

[From Huffington Post]

Exactly. It’s not like Roseanne hasn’t courted controversy on her show before, her show was the first sitcom to feature a lesbian kiss. There has already been a gender fluid character on television, Asia Kate Dillon’s character on the Showtime series Billions has that distinction. But there need to be more. I hope Roseanne (and ABC) doesn’t bow to the pressure of this group and helps improve the visibility of the LGBTQ community in the media. I have a feeling she will prevail.

Embed from Getty Images

John Goodman and Sara Gilbert during an appearance on CBS's 'The Talk.'

The Paley Center for Media's 11th Annual PaleyFest Fall TV previews with 'Shameless'

Cocktail reception in celebration of the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival

Photos: WENN.com, Getty Images

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

82 Responses to “Roseanne reboot boycotted by One Million Moms for gender fluid character”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. neelyo says:

    Aren’t the real numbers closer to 10,000 Moms?

    • Esmom says:

      However many they have, it’s too many. Sigh.

    • DSW says:

      It’s more like fewer than 100,000 men. Seriously, the vast majority of posters on their social media pages are men who are angry at the world.

    • Ann says:

      They only have 90k on facebook. They’re pathetic page still has the same picture up too. An angry white mom who looks like she’s had it with all the trash! I used to peep them out more often when they were boycotting something else ages ago. I forgot what it was, probably Harry Potter or something like that. I find it entertaining when they pop up, this is no exception. If anyone can handle this stupid group it’s Roseanne.

      • Southern Charm says:

        *Their.

        You may not agree with it but this is America and they have a right to free speech just as the kneeling football players many of you support do. It goes both ways, ladies.

      • Electric Tuba says:

        @southerncharm
        They’re = they are
        Their = possessive
        “Their rights”
        “They’re not right”

        Lord have mercy

      • jwoolman says:

        The new show doesn’t sound as though it’s aiming at the Sesame Street crowd, so not sure why they are worried. They aren’t forced to watch it. It’s appropriate to ask that certain types of shows be shown later in the evening (other countries do that), although parents seem to not notice that the kiddies are swarming around during the six o’clock news which is far worse than any sitcom for everybody’s mental and emotional health.

        They can usefully provide reviews and such of the show according to their own ethical framework, but really they need to teach people how to locate the off button on the remote. There is plenty of obnoxious stuff I won’t watch on tv.

      • Ann says:

        OMG!!! That typo! I’m so embarrassed and it won’t let me fix it cause I’m at a different computer. Oh well.

        And I wasn’t saying they don’t have a right to exist, just that they’re pathetic and stupid. Although you’re right about the typo, I did mean their.

      • Chewbacca says:

        @southern charm

        Anyone here talking about shutting them down? No? Didn’t think so. Disagreeing with someone isn’t robbing them of the right to free speech. The first amendment DOES NOT mean people are required to nod their heads and smile to protect your feelings.

  2. Who ARE these people? says:

    Think they really have a million?

    Zealots.

    • wolfpup says:

      Rosanne never backs down. My mother wouldn’t watch her show because it was “gross”.

      This is sort of hero-worshipping, but I love that Sara Gilbert married Linda Perry. I love my heroes. I loved Sara’s character – but Linda Perry just floors me!

      Rosanne is a comedy great. Some days I watch her shows simply to laugh in the afternoon – still on point, after all these years.

  3. Pawra says:

    Why are they bringing back both Beckys?

    Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke?

    • Jess says:

      Lol, I didn’t even notice that but think it’s awesome. They should bring them both on! 🙂

      “They say she’s the same but she’s not the same”.

    • Honey says:

      I didn’t like Sarah Chalke as Becky. They should only bring back Lecy Goranson

    • paranormalgirl says:

      Unless she meant Sara Gilbert…

    • Mel M says:

      I didn’t like her either as Becky. I read somewhere that she will be back as a different character though, not Becky.

      • mayamae says:

        I love that. Roseanne seems to be very loyal, and she must have been fond of both Beckys. And I believe Lecy left the first time of her own volition. It’s not like the show fired her and replaced her with another actor.

  4. Jess says:

    Oh god, it’s more like 20,000 crazy moms on Facebook who need attention. That group is delusional, I’ll occasionally read comments just to piss myself off and they do not disappoint.

    Don’t worry about them interfering with the show, they have no control over anything even though they claim to!

    • JustJen says:

      A while ago, I posted on FB blasting them about their boycott of either Target or JCP, I can’t remember and was stunned that a friend commented that she’s one of them. Jaw. Dropped.

    • CynicalAnn says:

      I’ve never heard of them-and I’m forcing myself not to look because I know I’ll be furious.

  5. HH says:

    While Darlene wasn’t gender fluid, she was enough of a “tomboy” that a gender fluid character isn’t a far leap. Also, as someone said above 1M moms is more of an aspirational number lol. They’re much smaller, in the thousands.

  6. Aang says:

    Despite Roseanne’s sometimes problematic views I’m looking forward to this. The original was great, John Goodman is a treasure, and I’ve recently watched a few episodes on Amazon and it really holds up. It’s just real. And as the parent of a trans child I’m thrilled with the representation of gender fluidity! Screw those shrews at OneMM.

    • HadToChangeMyName says:

      Isn’t Roseanne a Trump supporter? If so, then this is perfect.

    • Anners says:

      I 💛 John Goodman so much! His voice makes me feel like everything is going to be okay.

    • Scout says:

      Roseanne is a fascist Trump supporter who dresses up in Hitler cosplay for attention. Somewhat problematic? She’s the definition of what is wrong with this country and how Trump got elected. She panders to the working class while espousing hateful vitriol while counting her coins.

      • Applecore says:

        Just did a bit of googling on the basis of your comment and yikes! So disappointing. Her and Diego Luna (joined woody barf Allen movie) went on my shit list on the same day.

  7. Susie says:

    They tried boycotting Ellen and one of her sponsors. That didn’t go well.

  8. Kitten says:

    “Transgender agenda” lol. I have feeling these moms are more concerned with a fictional character than the * real-life * violence that trans people face everyday. Predictably sad.

    • Erinn says:

      I bet they watch the Duggars.

      But I mean – heaven forbid a child ACTOR play a gender-fluid character. Let’s only watch ‘moral’, god-fearing people like the real life molesters who pimp out their entire family on tv.

  9. Radley says:

    I feel sorry for the actual kids of these bigoted moms. Moms who actually give a sh!t build up, they don’t tear down. And yeah, they’re no match for Roseanne/ABC.

  10. Nev says:

    Love Roseanne!!!
    Always have always will yayyyy

  11. Boxy Lady says:

    For the reboot, are the writers pretending that the last season never happened? I am just curious.

    • awholenewworld says:

      I’ve been wondering the same thing!

    • Tulsi 2020 says:

      I try to pretend it never happened.

      • jwoolman says:

        Likewise. The show really jumped the shark once they won the lottery, though. Also maybe with the fourth child. Roseanne was just running out of ideas. It happens to most of them with very few exceptions. Sometimes as early as the second season.

      • freewhitebaby7.0 says:

        It never happened for me. I’d already quit watching by that point, and I had been a diehard Roseann fan (still am, but only up until maybe the year after David moved into the Connor basement. That was the beginning of the end as far as plot and good writing were concerned).

      • Ange says:

        I think the show went bad about when Roseanne divorced Tom Arnold in real life (around when they bought the diner?). Her character became SUCH A SHREW. Before then she and Dan had fun and played off each other in a really sweet way, after that she was just this horrible person who had her whole family cowed.

    • Honey says:

      Maybe it’ll end up being a dream where Roseanne was imagining Dan was still alive,and it will end with her waking up the next morning and remembering he was really gone.

      I only liked the first few seasons

    • M.A.F. says:

      Yes, they will bypass the last season. So, Dan did have the heart attack but survived.

      • Boxy Lady says:

        Thanks for the info! I was a huge fan of the show when I was growing up so I am looking forward to the reboot.

    • jwoolman says:

      It sounds as though they are ignoring when they won the lottery and became rich also, judging from the description of Darlene’s daughter. She’s described as wanting to do better than her parents and grandparents, which suggests nobody is rich. Why she would come back to Langford in pursuit of that goal is a mystery…. But that would mean they cut off the backstory in the time before the lottery win.

  12. Lucy2 says:

    Oh no! The tens of women boycotting this will surely sink the series!!! (Sarcasm font)

  13. Tulsi 2020 says:

    I hope the reboot is better than season 9. But how is John Goodman going to be in it? His character died.

    • Boxy Lady says:

      That’s part of why I was asking if the writers were ignoring the last season. The other part is that according to the series finale, David was married to Becky and Darlene was married to Mark. The character Roseanne rewrote it because she thought the couples belonged together the other way (as in David should be with Darlene and Becky with Mark).

  14. Patricia says:

    These people are not mothers. Maybe they have birthed out an unfortunate child, but actions like this is what KILLS so many LGBTQA youth through suicide. These people are despicable.
    Can you imagine having so much hatred that you can’t even stand to see a certain kind of person depicted on a freaking tv show? Can you imagine the dark soul who needs to treat trans people like this, in order to feel superior to someone, at any cost? It is so hard to understand sometimes, and so very sad.

  15. blonde555 says:

    Side note: Roseanne looks AMAZING as a blonde! Talk about getting better with age!

  16. M.A.F. says:

    Have they never seen the show? Leon was an openly gay character with a partner, who was featured quite often. This show might have shown a blue-collar family but it was family that was open to everyone.

  17. kimbers says:

    crazy ppl that will not effect the popularity of the reboot.

    • jwoolman says:

      Roseanne is a very talented writer and an interesting comedian. But she has often gone off the deep end with conspiracy theories and related things and it’s badly affected her personal life as well, especially once she was rich enough to toss people under the bus with wild abandon. She gets her hate on easily and can’t seem to shake it in response to reality. I’m surprised she is still friends with so many of the old cast, actually. She has a habit of quickly abandoning people after declaring them bffs or loves of her life, and blaming them entirely. I’m sure this is partly related to her struggles with mental illness, but even when stabilized by treatment old habits can die hard.

      My guess is that she believed the conspiracy theories and smears about Hillary at some point and those ideas were set in stone from then on. So Trump is ok because he’s not Hillary (she actually said that herself) . If she had dug deeper into Trump before she bought into the Hillary smears, she would have seen what a lifelong crook and racist he was and how he’s been cheating the little guys as a business model. Quite a contrast to her vision of herself as the proponent of the little guys. She really is too smart to fall for Trump, but other things block her. Her blinders are on and unlikely to come off no matter what Trump does. She is so rich that she is basically protected against the worst of Trumpian consequences.

      Hopefully others will convince her that displaying Trump love or Hillary hate on the show is likely to be a bad idea. Hillary won the popular vote. Trump’s diehard supporters are actually a small minority and he’s losing support even among his voters, including Republicans who can’t support anybody but a Republican ordinarily.

  18. Sassback says:

    Do you think this may be for Andy, Jackie’s son, or Becky’s baby that she was pregnant with during the finale?

  19. Ravensdaughter says:

    Never watched the show but I must comment-Roseanne looks fantastic! Her hair is a great start and she obviously lost weight-didn’t she have breast reduction surgery, too?-what else did she do?

    • jwoolman says:

      She had some surgery that limited how much she can eat, can’t remember exactly what kind. She had struggled with her weight for quite a long time and she could afford it, hope she hasn’t had some of the difficulties that can come with it. I don’t know if she had a type that was reversible. But she has looked good for quite a while.

      The breast reduction surgery was the focus of an episode. She was having a lot of back pain so it was done to relieve that.

  20. Chaine says:

    Ick, I can’t stand Roseanne. She has a horrible screech, a grating personality and political views, and isn’t it her that foisted George Clooney on us, leading to decades of incredibly dull films that are always touted for some reason as Oscar-worthy, presumably by other solemn, elderly white guys who like Serious Topics And Important Historical Events? I’m angry at the Million Moms, who I also can’t stand, because now they are making me have to take sides with Roseanne. Personally, I think her reboot of this show will be a big flop.

  21. Darla says:

    Roseanne is a batshit Trumpster, and sorry I wouldn’t watch this on a bet. I hope Galecki turns her down. I am sure he’s under pressure from people like Sara Gilbert whom I believe is a friend of his. But he doesn’t need the Roseanne circus. Run Johnny, run.

    • jwoolman says:

      From what little I read, she sounds like more of a batshit anti-Hilleryite. She thought Trump would be the good option because he’s not Hillary. Didn’t think too far ahead of her conspiracy theories is my bet. Trump really seems 180 degrees away from her opinions on other things through the years. Although maybe she’s changed after being so rich for so long.

  22. DiamondGirl says:

    Just because it’s their grandchild doesn’t mean it’s an actual child – it could be a young adult.

    People need to mind their own business. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.

  23. adastraperaspera says:

    Clearly, none of these “million” moms ever watched Roseanne.

  24. aenflex says:

    Roseanne fan either way. Her sitcom changed The Sitcom.
    I don’t care if/that she voted for Trump. I’m not about to boycott an artist because of their political views. It’d be no different than those 1 Million Moms boycotting based on their backward religious and/or social views.

    • Scout says:

      What are your feelings on dressing up as Nazis? Hitler? “Jew Cookies”? Cool? Cool!

    • Otaku Fairy says:

      Nope. Refusing to tune into the work of people because they actively support white supremacy, transphobia, misogyny, and rape culture is not the same as boycotting because you’re against diversity and equality. Legitimizing discrimination and violence as an equally valid viewpoint is a big part of the reason why we’re in this situation and why we’re seeing such petulant entitlement from the alt-right. We don’t have to support the careers of people who actively promote our own (and others) dehumanization.

      You and others are still perfectly free to watch it though. Some people choose to separate the art from the artist, others don’t in certain situations. I’m not at all ashamed to say that I’m going to be one of the people who’s not watching it because of Roseanne’s political decisions. That doesn’t make me or anyone else ‘equally bad’. And hopefully you never criticize people who work with or enjoy the work of people like Chris Brown or Woody Allen, because that would just be hypocrisy.

  25. booradley says:

    Yay Deb Gallagher!!!
    hate how annoying she was the last 2 seasons, but love the Gallagher children getting work. They are my favourite TV family hands down!!

  26. NoKiddingCats says:

    This is rich. Many Libs are boycotting the show due to Roseanne’s outspoken conservative views on Twitter. Nothing like being the victim of small minded idiocy on both sides. I, for one, will be watching with bells on. I predict huge ratings based on the fact that Roseanne was a fantastic show and I am sure the reboot will be too!

    • Otaku Fairy says:

      So you admit that talk of burning Jews (among other things) is representative of “outspoken conservative views” now? At least the conservaturds are finally dropping all pretense of having any sort of ‘moral high ground’. Thanks for sparing us the trouble of having to insert #NotAllConservatives disclaimers when speaking truth about the right from now on.

  27. ValiantlyVarnished says:

    Roseanne is a Trump supporter. I won’t watch a single thing this woman does ever again. She has tweeted some really awful racist BS and she needs to be called out for it.

    • Lady Rain says:

      +1…I won’t be watching this reboot for this exact reason, and this is coming from a huge former show fan who’s watched almost every episode and owns the entire series on DVD boxset, which I’d gladly now toss or give away.

      She can keep her racist views, I won’t be supporting her in the least.

  28. Scout says:

    Roseanne is a proud Trump supporter who dresses up as Hitler and poses with burned cookies in the shape of children (which she labeled “Jew cookies”) that she just took out of the oven. How she is allowed to be on television, IN THIS CLIMATE, is astounding. The only thing more astounding is how many people are complicit in allowing it to happen. She is a hateful, dangerous woman and she deserves nothing but failure. Don’t believe me? Google Roseanne + Heeb Magazine. In the article accompanying the photo shoot she proudly boasts how she is the re-incarnated soul of Adolf Hitler.

    • JRenee says:

      Are you kidding me? What type of sicko makes jokes about burning Jewish children in ovens. She doesn’t even look like herself. Has she always been this vile?

    • robyn says:

      Roseanne Barr said some really disgusting things about the Obama’s and Hillary during the election and has shown many signs of being a racist. (For some reason my earlier comment about this was deleted. ) I like her original show but why would anyone but a die hard Trump supporter watch her on television now?

  29. Lilith says:

    And now I have a great reason to tune in. Thanks moms!

  30. Lisa says:

    “Agenda”… sigh.

    Roseanne is a walking contradiction. Love and miss her show, but as a person, she’s too disappointing. I’ll still tune in out of curiosity and to see Dan again. Is there anyone on this planet who doesn’t love Dan Connor?

    • mayamae says:

      I’ve always thought Dan was the perfect husband. He knew if Roseanne was happy, the family was happy. But he wasn’t a pushover or submissive in any way.