Find Out Why They’re FINALLY Speaking Out About the Finale Snub! Fans were left wondering, but now the truth is coming out! The beloved “The Conners” actor who was shockingly written off the show’s finale is finally ready to tell their side of the story

‘The Conners’ star reacts to finale snub after being written off the show

Michael Fishman (right) addressed his absence from “The Conners” finale.Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Michael Fishman was written off of “The Conners” after season 4, but some fans felt that he should’ve come back for the series finale, which aired on Wednesday, April 23.

The final episode of season 7 tied up the titular family’s story nicely, with the Conners clan gathering at matriarch Roseanne’s grave. (Roseanne Barr starred in the OG series “Roseanne,” but was not included in the continuation series “The Conners” due to a series of controversial tweets.)

Fishman’s character, D.J. Conner, was not even mentioned in the series finale, although he did appear in some flashback clips. Fishman took to Instagram on Thursday, April 24, to say he’s been “inundated” with messages from fans who are expecting him to be angry about the snub.

“People seem to want to have there be some kind of conflict or controversy, especially on my part. The reality is, all I really have is empathy and understanding for all of the people on set and for all of our audience that’s grieving,” Fishman said in a video. “I prefer to be a lighthouse in the dark. It’s for that reason that I’m creating a safe space to build community to process difficult emotions and transitions.”

The actor added that he has “only gratitude” when he looks back on the “legacy” of “Roseanne” and “The Conners.”

In the caption, he wrote that he is “thankful for the Gift of Grief.”

Fishman shared another message of positivity on Tuesday, April 29. In an Instagram video, he noted that “people seem to want us, nowadays, to all fight and be divisive.”

“The whole point of the show I grew up on was finding the joy and having a little less,” he said of the Conners’ working-class values. “We didn’t complain, because we’re proud of who we were.”

Back in 2022, Fishman said he was “told” that he would not be returning for season 5 of “The Conners,” suggesting that it was not his choice.

“While I was told I would not be returning for season 5, Lanford was a valuable place to grow up, learn, and develop. I was incredibly lucky to return home and demonstrate my expansion,” he said in a statement to People at the time. “As I venture into the world to build the future, I send tremendous love and success to everyone involved in production.”

In addition to Fishman, John Goodman (Dan), Laurie Metcalf (Jackie), Sara Gilbert (Darlene), and Lecy Goranson (Becky) all reprised their “Roseanne” roles on “The Conners.”

“The Conners” is available to stream on Hulu.

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