Tim Allen has finally weighed in on ABCs decision to fire his friend Roseanne Barr .

The Last Man Standing star described her as a longtime pal from their days on the live comedy circuit, but stopped short of defending Barr, whose Roseanne reboot was canceled after she tweeted a racist joke .

I go way back with Rosie and thats not the Rosie I know, he said Thursday at the Television Critics Associations press tour in Los Angeles, according to Entertainment Weekly . She was the most diverse and tolerant woman Ive ever known for a long time. Whatever got in her head isnt the Roseanne I know.

But as far as Roseanne is concerned, Allen said ABC had to do what they had to do and its their decision.

Allen and Barr are both part of a small, but vocal, group of Hollywood stars who have expressed support for President Donald Trump . A year earlier, Allens own show was canceled by ABC after six seasons. At the time, Allen and other conservatives suggested the stars right-leaning political views were to blame though ABC denied that was a factor.

Its a very icy time, Allen said Thursday. Ive been a comedian for 38 years and Ive never seen it, like Lenny Bruce said at the Purple Onion, Weve gone backwards. There are things you cant say. There are things you shouldnt say. Who makes up these rules? And as a stand-up comic, its a dangerous position to be in because I like pushing buttons. Its unfortunate.

However, Fox has picked up Last Man Standing for a new season this fall. A number of entertainment industry honchos implied the decision to revive the show so soon was prompted, at least in part, by the initial record-breaking success of the Roseanne reboot . Barrs Roseanne Conner character was a Trump supporter, while Last Man Standing features a conservative family man, Allens Mike Baxter, as its protagonist.

But Allen who attended Trumps inauguration and once compared being a conservative in Hollywood to 1930s Germany and his Last Man Standing cohorts appeared eager to distance themselves from the Roseanne reboot Thursday. For one thing, Allen said fans can expect his character to be centrist , rather than a staunch Republican.

This guys a practical guy. He owns a big business. If its helping his business, hes probably pro-Trump, he said . He probably doesnt defend him. Whatever is good for his business and good for the state of Colorado.