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Norm MacDonald discusses his new Netflix talk show, his love for Judge Judy and the Saturday Night Live Weekend Update.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

Norm Macdonald, 58, poses for a portrait in New York.(Photo: Josmar Taveras)

Norm Macdonald is controversial with many new controversial comments.

Talk to The Hollywood Reporter, about his upcoming Netflix talk show "Norm Macdonald has a show" (Friday), defended Roseanne Barr, referred by ABC in May after her racist tweet about former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett. He also voiced his support for suspected sex offenders Louis CK and Chris Hardwick, and said he was "happy that the #MeToo movement has slowed down a bit."

Shortly after, the interview sparked negative reactions on social media on Tuesday, "The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon" canceled Macdonald's appearance. USA TODAY also met Macdonald, 58, this week, when he made similar remarks about Barr and CK. Excerpts from this conversation follow:

Question: You were a writer on "Roseanne" before "Saturday Night Live". What did you do with her racist tweet and ABC's decision to fire her?

Norm Macdonald: I think they were wrong to fire her. She should work.

Q: Do you want to see her on TV?

Macdonald: Yes, I would like to see her doing comedy. She is a great actress. I'm always sad when fantastic comedians do not go to work, because it's a very unusual skill. I mean, Einstein married his cousin, but I'm mad.

Q: What about comedians like Louis C.K and Aziz Ansari, accused of sexual misconduct, starting to come back and play. Do you agree with people who say it's too early?

Macdonald: I agree with everything that the public says. So I think if you've committed a crime and you go on stage, the public will tell you whether or not they want to see you. If you show up and the audience is not there and they did not buy tickets, then you know that your career is over.

More: Louis C.K's return performance sparked criticism from colleagues

Related: John Goodman reveals that Roseanne will be killed in the spinoff of The Conners

Q: But what about Louis CK, who made a surprise at Comedy Cellar. A couple of women later stated that they were uncomfortable not to be there.

Macdonald: Oh, they did it? Well, these women should get their money back because I know it was a set of surprises. I was not there, but all I heard was that he did very well. But if some women were upset, the Comedy Cellar should pay them back $ 200.

Q: $ 200?

Macdonald: $ 200 I think that they could overcome the trauma if they were getting $ 200 and could buy nice shoes.

Q: Vulture recently asked comedians a joke about their career that they regret. Have you a?

Macdonald: No, I have no joke that I regret. I have jokes in the past that could be taken wrong, but that's not really my responsibility. I never try to make a cruel joke, so I think the motive is important in these things.

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