Roseanne Barr Faces Backlash for Mocking E. Jean Carroll's Sexual Abuse Claim Against Trump

Comedian Roseanne Barr has come under fire for a 42-second video she posted on social media mocking author E. Jean Carroll's sexual abuse allegation against former President Donald Trump. In the video, filmed inside the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York where Carroll claims the alleged incident took place nearly 30 years ago, Barr pretends to have a "flashback" and asserts that "Joe Biden raped me right here in that dressing room in the shoe department."

Barr's video, which appears to make light of Carroll's accusation, has been widely criticized as insensitive to survivors of sexual assault. Critics have called Barr a "horrible person" for trivializing the serious issue of sexual abuse. Actor Billy Baldwin suggested Barr be sued over the post, while attorney Viva Frei questioned what exactly she could be sued for.

Some of Barr's supporters, however, found the video humorous and encouraged her to sue President Biden, who has never been charged with such an offense. Barr, a vocal Trump supporter, has a history of making controversial and polarizing remarks, which led to the cancellation of her ABC sitcom in 2018 following racist comments she made online.

Why this matters: Barr's video has reignited the ongoing debate over the limits of comedy and satire, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics like personal trauma and sexual violence. The incident also highlights the potential impact of high-profile individuals using their platforms to undermine the gravity of sexual assault allegations and discourage other victims from coming forward.

Carroll had previously filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump in 2019 over his denial of her rape allegation. In January 2024, a New York jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million after agreeing that Trump had defamed his alleged victim by claiming he didn't sexually abuse her in a department store fitting room around 1996. As of now, Barr has not issued a public apology or statement regarding the controversial article.

Key Takeaways

• Roseanne Barr posted a video mocking E. Jean Carroll's sexual abuse claim against Trump.
• Barr's video has been widely criticized as insensitive to sexual assault survivors.
• Some of Barr's supporters found the video humorous and encouraged her to sue Biden.
• Barr's video reignited the debate over the limits of comedy on sensitive topics.
• In 2024, a jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million after finding Trump defamed her.