Ambien maker tells Roseanne: 'Racism is not a known side effect'

Roseanne Barr got in a lot of trouble for a racist tweet, then blamed the medication she was on.

Gordon Gottsegen CNET contributor

Gordon Gottsegen is a tech writer who has experience working at publications like Wired. He loves testing out new gadgets and complaining about them. He is the ghost of all failed Kickstarters.

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Gordon Gottsegen

May 30, 2018 1:01 p.m. PT

ABC's "Roseanne" — Roseanne Barr (left) on the set of ABC show Roseanne.
Adam Rose/Getty Images

Sitcom star Roseanne Barr is blaming her sleep medication Ambien for her racist Twitter joke -- the same joke that got her show canceled and reruns pulled. But the makers of Ambien aren't buying the excuse.

Sanofi, the pharmaceutical company that makes Ambien, tweeted this in return:

People of all races, religions and nationalities work at Sanofi every day to improve the lives of people around the world. While all pharmaceutical treatments have side effects, racism is not a known side effect of any Sanofi medication.
— Sanofi US (@SanofiUS) May 30, 2018

The tweet says "racism is not a known side effect of any Sanofi medication."

(Let's hope Sanofi makes enough pain medication for that sick burn.)

Roseanne Barr previously apologized for her racist joke and tried to explain what led her to Ambien-tweeting at 2 a.m.

roseanne-ambien-tweet — Barr's explanation tweet.
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