Members of and allies to Hollywood’s LGBTQ+ community, including one ofCandace Candace Bure’s former costars, are speaking out after theFuller Housestarsparked controversywitha comment about telling stories centered on “traditional marriage.”
In an interview withThe Wall Street Journalpublished Monday, Cameron Bure shared how her projects with the Christian faith-based Great American Family network (GAF) will differ from the increasingly inclusive content seen on her former network, the Hallmark Channel.
“I think thatGreat American Family will keep traditional marriage at the core,” said Cameron Bure, 46.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Kevork Djansezian/Getty
Disapproval of the sentiment quickly bubbled up online, and Cameron Bure’s formerFull HousecostarJodie Sweetineven showed her support forJoJo Siwa, when theDance Momsalum criticized Cameron Bure’s “rude and hurtful” remark.
“Honestly, I can’t believe … she would not only create a movie with intention of excluding LGBTQIA+, but then also talk about it in the press,” the 19-year-old, whoidentified as a member of the LGBTQ+ communityin 2021, wrote on Instagram. “This is rude and hurtful to a whole community of people.”
In response to Siwa’s post, Sweetin posted the comment: “You know I love you ❤️❤️”
JoJo Siwa (left) and Candace Cameron Bure.Ronald Martinez/Getty; Paul Archuleta/Getty
Several other stars also reacted to Siwa’s post, withDance MomscostarMaddie Zieglerwriting, “Go off jojo!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️”
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Alyssa Milanoadded, “Thank you for being such a positive role model for my children. Love you so much.”
Patrick Starrrreferenced apublic back-and-forthbetween Cameron Bure and Siwa over the summer: “Omggggg after everything y’all went thruuuuu!!! NOOOO MAMMM!”
“Go make the content that you want to make but why insist on castigating others? It’s the judgment for me,” wrote Pete, 58. “As a proud mom of an lgbtqia person, the traditional marriage quote stung. Proud to be on Hallmark channel which understands the importance of diversity and inclusion of EVERYONE 🌈🌈🌈”
Maren Morris.Jason Kempin/Getty
Country singerMaren Morris, who hasspoken up as an LGBTQ+ allyrecently, alsomade her feelings known.
Hilarie Burton.LISA O’CONNOR/AFP/Getty
“It’s certainly the year 2022, so we’re aware of the trends,” Abbott said about inclusive programming. “There’s no whiteboard that says, ‘Yes, this’ or ‘No, we’ll never go here.'”
Burton, 40, tweeted in part: “Being LGBTQ isn’t a ‘trend.‘That guy and his network are disgusting. You too [Candace]. There is nothing untraditional about same-sex couples.”
Mike Coppola/Getty
Hallmark starJonathan Bennettspoke with PEOPLE about his network’s move toward more inclusive storytelling. “What I love so much about Hallmark Channel is the care they take in the quality of telling the story, especially when it involves LGBTQ+ people, it’s handled with so much respect,” theMean Girlsactor, 41, told Breanne L. Heldman on thePEOPLE Every Daypodcast.
Emphasizing Hallmark’s commitment to elevating all voices both on camera and behind the scenes, Bennett added, “It’s just been an unwavering amount of support from the network on telling the story and wanting to tell it and letting us do it how we want.”
He also spoke with PEOPLE at Tuesday night’s red carpet for the upcoming Hulu seriesWelcome to Chippendales, emphasizing, “I’m just so proud to be part of Hallmark channel that does such inclusive programming. … I’m just proud to be making movies for everyone to watch at Christmas, because Christmas is for everybody.”
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Fire Islandstar Matt Rogers had some tougher words for theAurora Teagardenactress when he spoke with PEOPLE at the OUT100 Celebration in New York City on Wednesday night.
“I’ve come to expect very little from Candace Cameron Bure, so what I’m doing with Candace Cameron Bure and a lot of other big stars of the past is I’m paying them absolute f—in’ dust. I think as long as these people are out there, and they’re still espousing their same bulls—, just ignore them, ‘cause they’ll hate that more than anything else.”
Rogers, who is gay, continued of potential projects with GAF: “If they move away from ‘traditional couples,’ then I would love — and listen, they’re missing out on some great talent if they want to shove queer people out.”
“I don’t think so,” he told PEOPLE of a future gig on GAF. “I don’t think that will be happening at all.”
Of Cameron Bure, he said, “My gosh. If you want to make content that’s for you, go ahead, girl. No problem. But you didn’t need to specifically exclude us for no reason. If you want to make whatever content you want to make, sure, but you don’t have to purposely make sure LGBTQ+ people aren’t represented.”
Candace Cameron Bure.Paul Archuleta/Getty
“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 began.
She explained, “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. … 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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Bure said she also expressed in theWSJinterview 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,” adding that she will “encourage and fully support.” But Bure said this part was “not included” in the final story.
The conservative actress recentlyended a long tenurewith Hallmark that resulted in more than 20 movies. Upon joining GAF, she was also named as chief creative officer.
source: people.com
