She might be well-known for starring in Hallmark originals known for their wholesomeness, but the latest drama surrounding actress Candace Cameron Bure is anything but.
The former Full House actress swapped the halls of Hallmark for the Great American Family network, which used to be a country music channel.
When explaining her decision for the move, Candace explained to the Wall Street Journal, “I am constantly looking for ways that I can inspire people to live life with purpose. [Great American Family] fits my brand perfectly; we share a vision of creating compelling wholesome content for an audience who wants to watch programming for and with the whole family.”
However, things took a turn after the actress expanded on her comments, making references that many think confirmed she did not expect the network to feature same-sex couples in starring roles.
“I think that Great American Family will keep traditional marriage at the core,” she said.
Hallmark has famously included more diversity in their broadcasting over the past years, including their first major LGBTQ holiday movie starring Mean Girls' Jonathan Bennett, so Candace’s comments had some questioning the timing and the motive.
GLAAD – the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation – released a statement saying, “It's irresponsible and hurtful for Candace Cameron Bure to use tradition as a guise for exclusion,” Sarah Kate Ellis, the CEO and President said in a statement. “I'd love to have a conversation with Bure about my wife, our kids, and our family’s traditions”
However, in a lengthy statement provided to People on Wednesday, Candace made some things clear, defending herself from the backlash from the likes of GLAAD and celebrities including JoJo Siwa and actress Hilarie Burton.
In the statement, Candace made a point of writing that people of “all ethnicities and identities” would be able to “contribute to the network” she was joining, both on screen and behind the camera.
She wrote, “It absolutely breaks my heart that anyone would ever think I intentionally would want to offend and hurt anyone.”
She went on to add, “It saddens me that the media is often seeking to divide us, even around a subject as comforting and merry as Christmas movies. But, given the toxic climate in our culture right now, I shouldn't be surprised. We need Christmas more than ever.”
After labeling herself a “devoted Christian,” she professed she was “called to love all people” because they were created in the “image of God.”
“My heart yearns to build bridges and bring people one step closer to God, to love others well, and to simply be a reflection of God's huge love for all of us,” she wrote.
Stressing her point, she concluded her statement by saying, “I have a simple message. I love you anyway.”
Her love was also sent to “those who hate what I value, people who had tried to assassinate my character” and to “…everyone reading this, of any race, creed, sexuality, or political party.”
While her comments never quite cleared up the issue of Great American Family’s supposed ban on having gay lead characters, she did add that she’s in favor of adding more diversity to her new network.
“I had also expressed in my interview, which was not included, that people of all ethnicities and identities have and will continue to contribute to the network in great ways both in front of and behind the camera, which I encourage and fully support,” she claimed.
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