George Soros responds to Roseanne Barr's false claim that he is 'a Nazi'

'[Mr Soros] did not collaborate with Nazis. He did not help round up people,' spokesman says

Emily Shugerman
New York
Tuesday 29 May 2018 21:09 BST
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Billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros has dismissed attacks from Roseanne Barr, the star of ABC’s now-cancelled sitcom Roseanne, who falsely accused the Jewish businessman of being a Nazi.

Ms Barr went on a Twitter tirade on Tuesday morning, making racist comments about members of the Obama administration and falsely claiming that Chelsea Clinton was married to a nephew of Mr Soros – a Hungarian-born businessman and major left-wing donor.

After Ms Clinton corrected the falsehood, Ms Barr tweeted a half-apology, writing: “Sorry to have tweeted incorrect info about you!I[sic] please forgive me!". However, the second half of the tweet included a false conspiracy theory about Mr Soros. It read: "By the way, George Soros a nazi who turned in his fellow Jews 2 be murdered in German concentration camps & stole their wealth-were you aware of that?”

Donald Trump Jr, the president's eldest son, retweeted the message.

A spokesman for Mr Soros called the comments “insulting” and “an affront to Mr Soros and his family,” who survived as Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary by masquerading as Christians. Mr Soros was aged 13 at the time.

“[Mr Soros] did not collaborate with Nazis. He did not help round up people. He did not confiscate anybody’s property,” the spokesman said in a statement. “Such allegations are insulting to the victims of the Holocaust, to all Jewish people, and to anyone who honours the truth.”

Ms Barr’s comments appeared to be a continuation of a conspiracy theory that has circulated for years. Shortly after Ms Barr’s racist and antisemitic tweetstorm, ABC announced it would be cancelling her sitcom, which was one of the highest-rated new shows of the season. The actress had increasingly taken advantage of her rising profile to tweet right-wing conspiracy theories and pro-Trump messages. At least one producer on the sitcom announced she was quitting the show before ABC made its decision on Tuesday.

"Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show," ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey said in a statement.

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