She was once the queen of the Hallmark Channel, but Candace Cameron Bure has moved on to a new network and is causing controversy along the way. On Nov. 14, The Wall Street Journal published an interview with Bure about making Christmas movies for Great American Family. The actor, who's chief creative officer of the channel, was asked whether or not the network's films will feature same-sex couples. She responded that the TV movies her network makes will keep "traditional marriage at the core."
Bure's words sparked an immediate backlash, leading to several other celebrities—including one of her former Full House co-stars—and the LGBTQ organization GLAAD calling out her comments. Read on to find out more.
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Bure left Hallmark for Great American Family.
Kathy Hutchins / ShutterstockBure starred in over two dozen movies for the Hallmark Channel, several of which were Christmas movies. But she left Hallmark earlier this year. In her Wall Street Journal interview, Bure said that she was glad to join the smaller, newer network Great American Family (GAC), because it's more focused on Christianity.
“My heart wants to tell stories that have more meaning and purpose and depth behind them,” she explained. “I knew that the people behind Great American Family were Christians that love the Lord and wanted to promote faith programming and good family entertainment.”
She said the channel will feature "traditional marriage."
Tinseltown / ShutterstockThis year, the Hallmark Channel is releasing its first Christmas movie featuring a gay couple, The Holiday Sitter, which stars Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett.
WSJ asked Bure if GAC would follow suit and offer LGBTQ representation in its movies. "I think that Great American Family will keep traditional marriage at the core," she replied.
GAC chief executive Bill Abbott, who previously worked for Hallmark's parent company, described centering same-sex couples as a "trend."
"It’s certainly the year 2022, so we’re aware of the trends. There’s no whiteboard that says, ‘Yes, this’ or ‘No, we’ll never go here,'" he said.
Other stars slammed Bure for her comments.
Kathy Hutchins / ShutterstockBure faced immediate backlash after the interview was published. Hilarie Burton Morgan, who has also starred in Hallmark movies, tweeted a link to Bure's interview and wrote, "Bigot. I don’t remember Jesus liking hypocrites like Candy. But sure. Make your money, honey. You ride that prejudice wave all the way to the bank."
In another tweet, she wrote, "Now they’re just openly admitting their bigotry. I called this [expletive] out years ago when Abbott was at Hallmark. Glad they dumped him. Being LGBTQ isn’t a 'trend.' That guy and his network are disgusting. You too Candy. There is nothing untraditional about same-sex couples."
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JoJo Siwa also spoke up, referring to her recent feud with Bure in the process.
Tinseltown / ShutterstockDancer JoJo Siwa, who is part of the LGBTQ community herself, posted about Bure's interview on Instagram.
"Honestly, I can’t believe after everything that went down just a few months ago, that she would not only create a movie with intention of excluding LGBTQIA+, but then also talk about it in the press. This is rude and hurtful to a whole community of people," she wrote.
Earlier this year, Siwa and Bure made headlines when Siwa called Bure the "rudest celebrity" she's ever met in a TikTok video. Bure later said that they spoke on the phone and made up. The TikTok was in reference to Bure had refusing to take a photo with Siwa when she attended the Fuller House premiere as a tween, as reported by People.
One of Bure's co-stars supported Siwa.
Kathy Hutchins / ShutterstockSiwa's Instagram post has received many comments and has over 200,000 likes. Among the replies is one from Bure's Full House and Fuller House co-star Jodie Sweetin, who commented, "You know I love you ❤️❤️."
Siwa's Dance Mom co-star Maddie Ziegler wrote, "go off jojo!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️." Actor Alyssa Milano posted, "Thank you for being such a positive role model for my children. Love you so much." Makeup artist Patrick Starrr commented, "Omggggg after everything y’all went thruuuuu!!! NOOOO MAMMM!"
The star of Hallmark's new movie also got involved.
Tsuni-USA / ShutterstockBennett, one of the leads in an upcoming Hallmark movie, was asked about Bure's words.
"I'm just proud to be part of Hallmark channel that is doing so much inclusive programming like The Holiday Sitter, which is an LGBTQ+-led Christmas movie," he told E! News. "I'm just so proud to be on Hallmark Channel that's making these movies for everyone, because Christmas is for everyone and Hallmark channels are for everyone."
GLAAD released a statement.
Kathy Hutchins / ShutterstockAs reported by Deadline, GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis released a statement. "It’s irresponsible and hurtful for Candace Cameron Bure to use tradition as a guise for exclusion," it reads. "I’d love to have a conversation with Bure about my wife, our kids, and our family’s traditions. Bure is out of sync with a growing majority of people of faith, including LGBTQ people of faith, who know that LGBTQ couples and families are deserving of love and visibility."
The statement continues, "If [Great American Family’s] plan is to intentionally exclude stories about LGBTQ couples, then actors, advertisers, cable and streaming platforms, and production companies should take note and seriously consider whether they want to be associated with a network that holds exclusion as one of its values."
