Roseanne Barr has apologised after receiving widespread criticism for comparing a former Barack Obama adviser to an ape.

The actress and comedian was given the opportunity to make amends two months after she shocked many with a string of racist tweets, which led the cancellation of the revival of her sitcom.

In May, Ms Barr tweeted that Valerie Jarrett, an African-American woman who was born in Iran, is like the “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby.”

Ms Barr, 65, was given the chance to apologise live on Fox News on Thursday to Valerie Jarrett. But she managed to offend the ex-president’s former adviser again.

Appearing on Sean Hannity’s show, Ms Barr was asked to look down the lens and say sorry to Ms Jarrett.

"I'm sorry if you thought my tweet was racist because it wasn't. It was political. I never meant that and for that I apologise," she said.

But then she added: “Of course I'd tell her she needs to get a hair cut. I mean seriously, she needs to get a new haircut."

During the interview with Mr Hannity, Ms Barr also said: "I didn't know she was African-American, I assumed she was from Iran."