Channing Dungey, the woman who axed Roseanne

HOURS after tweeting an ugly slur about a black woman, Roseanne’s show was axed by one of the most powerful black women in television. So who is Channing Dungey?

IT WAS an ugly slur against one of the most powerful black women in former president Barack Obama’s administration that spelled the beginning of the end for Roseanne Barr.

And hours later, it was one of the most powerful black women in television who sounded the death knell: Despite massive ratings, the R oseanne rebootis no more, ABC president Channing Dungey told the world today.

“Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” read Dungey’s brief, unequivocal statement, a response to Barr’s tweet referring to former White House adviser Valerie Jarrett as “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby”.

#Repercussions
Dear #ChanningDungey and @ABCNetwork
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/QHZXBL1zRN

— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) May 29, 2018

Thus ended the short and tumultuous rekindled romance between ABC and Roseanne Barr, one that saw the network overlooking the many scandals that have plagued Barr in the years since Roseanne first went off the air in the hopes of tapping into some profitable nineties nostalgia.

As media commentators and celebrities — including Barr’s own co-stars — publicly condemned her for the disgusting outburst, many also praised Dungey for taking such swift and decisive action:

For the record, this is Channing Dungey. Sitting on top of your world like a Queen in full judgement of your garbage and taking it out. #Roseanne pic.twitter.com/GxEP2B61uq

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 29, 2018

Brava Channing Dungey.

— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) May 29, 2018

Thank you Channing Dungey for taking swift action today.@ABCNetwork + @Disney please keep taking a stand against this kind of repulsive behavior.

We can all find ways to stand up against bigotry, racism and hatred, let’s take that stand. pic.twitter.com/wioHQLcFOv

— Piper Perabo (@PiperPerabo) May 29, 2018

Thank you, Channing. #justice

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) May 29, 2018

Thank you Channing Dungey!https://t.co/VIlKTF9y7Z

— Viola Davis (@violadavis) May 29, 2018

My sister is a BALLER.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

— Merrin Dungey (@RealMerrinD) May 29, 2018

I have never been more proud to work for @ABCNetwork

THANK YOU Channing Dungey for being my one little slice of hope for our country today.

— Krista Vernoff (@KristaVernoff) May 29, 2018

As I called my manager to quit working on Roseanne, I was told it was cancelled. I feel so empowered by @iamwandasykes , Channing Dungey and anyone at ABC standing up for morals and abuse of power. Bullies will NEVER win.

— Emma Kenney (@EmmaRoseKenney) May 29, 2018

My prayers go out to the cast and crew who will now pay the price. But THANK YOU @RobertIger, #ChanningDungey and @ABCNetwork for standing up against bigotry. #Rosanne

— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) May 29, 2018

Even before today’s decision, Dungey was making history — in 2016 she became the first African American — and first black woman — to head a major television network.

The controversial Roseanne reboot was part of a concerted effort from Dugney to draw working class viewers back to ABC. Speaking at a London event in 2016, she said Donald Trump’s election had made her rethink her programming strategy.

“With our dramas, we have a lot of shows that feature very well-to-do, well-educated people, who are driving very nice cars and living in extremely nice places. There is definitely still room for that, and we absolutely want to continue to tell those stories because wish-fulfilment is a critical part of what we do as entertainers. But in recent history we haven’t paid enough attention to some of the true realities of what life is like for everyday Americans in our dramas,” she said.

Appearing at a Television Critics Association event in January this year, Dugney spoke passionately about what she wanted to achieve in her powerful role.

“I think that we’re kind of at a watershed moment in a real way, and it’s an exciting time to be here, to be in this role to be at this company,” she said.

“We think that we have a collective responsibility to do more and to do better. Whether it’s 50-50 by 2020, whether it’s Time’s Up and everything else that’s happening, I’m really happy that these conversations are happening. I think it’s an issue that we have always taken very seriously as a company, and we will continue to do so moving forward. We have a collective responsibility to do everything we can to make sure that everyone feels that the workplace is a safe and equal environment. I definitely want to be a part of all of that.”

You won’t be seeing Roseanne and Dan on screens any more. Picture: AP

Dungey said at the event that she wanted ABC’s programming to reflect the values of mutual respect.

“I think that the more that we can show onscreen men and women working together side-by-side with respect for one another, I think that that’s a good message for us to be spreading,” she said.

Just four months later, Dungey has put her money where her mouth is — taking a very public stand against racist abuse, in a move that will cost her company million s.