When you run a business, someone who works for you should keep their mouth shut so their remarks won’t ruin your brand reputation.
A business cannot and should not take sides in a political controversy. You won’t survive if you offend half your customers.
The NFL learned that lesson with the kneelers. ABC’s swift canning of “Roseanne” in the same line. Its not a free speech issue.
If you can’t avoid embarrassing your boss, well don’t be surprised when he shows you the door.
How many viewers do you think ABC would have lost if they had left Roseanne on the air?
Do you really think this is about business or money?
The NFL learned that lesson with the kneelers.
I don't think they've learned it yet, but the distinction here is that the NFL audience found the behavior quite offensive and it has cost the NFL millions to indulge the trouble makers.
I doubt Roseanne's audience, or ABC's audiences in general would have declined at all. If anything, even more people might have tuned into to see what Roseanne did next in her show.