Lacey Chabert, a former fictional Toaster Strudel heiress who is now the queen of the Hallmark Channel, has commented on Candace Cameron Bure’s criticism of the channel.
After Bure claimed that Hallmark is “a completely different network than when I started” because of a leadership change, Chabert, a staple on the cable network which has appeared in more than 20 Hallmark movies, defended the channel.
Hallmark reiterated a commitment to diversity and inclusion in its programming, including LGTBQ+ storylines.
In a recent interview with Vulture, Chabert, who, in addition to her starring roles, also executive produces and develops titles, said that she has “found a real home in Hallmark.”
Furthermore, she added that any alteration she’s seen amid the shift “has been embracing our creative ideas, and it’s my responsibility to the audience who continue to tune into my movies that I give the best I have to offer.”
“That’s always my mission,” she stated. “I’ll never abandon what Hallmark means for me, which is that everything is centered around the heart. I don’t think there are any plans for that to change anytime soon.”
When questioned about her thoughts on prominent Hallmark stars “defecting” to Great American Family, such as Bure and Danica McKellar (who is currently the network’s chief creative officer), Chabert merely expressed her good wishes for them.
“I wish everybody the best,” she stated. “I really can’t comment on it further other than I care about everybody involved.”
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Network Poach
When asked if the network had attempted to “poach” her, Chabert responded diplomatically.
“I’m with Hallmark, and I work for them,” the Mean Girls star stated. “I’m so sorry, but I’ll just have to leave it at that.”
Before joining GAF, Bure was a stalwart of Hallmark, and last month, when she discussed the leadership changes in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she stirred some controversy.
Notably, her remarks regarding the exclusion of LGBTQ+ films and the maintenance of traditional weddings as the mainstay of GAF programming garnered criticism from other actors and spectators.
The entire situation caused the former Full House cast member to explain her position in a statement.
“I am a devoted Christian. Which means that I believe that every human being bears the image of God,” Bure stated.
“Because of that, I am called to love all people, and I do. If you know me, you know that I am a person who loves fiercely and indiscriminately. 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.”
Bure Response
Having had her chestnuts roasted over an open flame by the internet and other celebrities, former Hallmark Channel mainstay Bure spoke out about the backlash to her inflammatory remarks regarding her new network, Great American Family.
Her Christmas content favors “traditional marriage” above LGBTQ love tales and emphasizes heterosexual relationships.
“All of you who know me know beyond question that I have great love and affection for all people. It absolutely breaks my heart that anyone would ever think I intentionally would want to offend and hurt anyone,” she said.
“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.”
Furthermore, she elaborated on her love for God and others.
“I am a devoted Christian, which means that I believe that every human being bears the image of God. Because of that, I am called to love all people, and I do. If you know me, you know that I am a person who loves fiercely and indiscriminately,” she continued.
“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.”
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Love Goes a Long Way
She blasted the media for using this platform to stoke the flames of strife and hate, but she also sent them a “simple message”: “I love you anyway,” she added.
“To those who hate what I value and who are attacking me online: I love you. To those who have tried to assassinate my character: I love you. To everyone reading this, of any race, creed, sexuality, or political party, including those who have tried to bully me with name-calling, I love you,” Bure wrote in the statement.
After the Wall Street Journal profile on Monday, in which she and Great American Family boss Bill Abbott defended the network’s position, Bure was subjected to a deluge of criticism.
Bure provided more details on the Wall Street Journal article in her statement on Wednesday.
Following the first remarks, actress Hilarie Burton referred to Bure and Abbott as “disgusting” for their opinions, and LGBT musician JoJo Siwa, who had previously claimed that Bure was the rudest celebrity she had ever encountered, also criticized the former Full House star’s assertion.
“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,” Siwa took to Instagram to express her disapproval. “This is rude and hurtful to a whole community of people.”
Photo: Closer Weekly
