Candace Cameron Bure said the backlash over her “traditional marriage” remarks “absolutely breaks my heart.”
The “Full House” alum broke her silence after fans and co-stars chastised her for remarks about featuring “traditional marriage” stories on the Great American Family (GAF) network, for which she is the chief creative officer.
Cameron Bure said in a statement shared via Instagram Wednesday:
“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. 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.”
She went on to write:
“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.”
When asked about the types of programs she wanted to work on, the “Christmas Under Wraps” star said she hoped to be “a reflection of God’s huge love,” insisting that she had no hatred toward any group.
Cameron Bure also accused the media of “fanning the flames of conflict and hatred.”
She did not name the celebrities who criticized her, but she did call out “those who hate what I value and are attacking me online” and “those who have attempted to assassinate my character.”
She added:
“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.”
Cameron Bure elaborated on her decision to join Great American Family, claiming that her comments in the original interview were taken out of context.
She wrote:
“I have long wanted to find a home for more faith-based programming. I am grateful to be an integral part of a young and growing 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. I’ve never been interested in proselytizing through my storytelling, but in celebrating God’s greatness in our lives through the stories I tell.”
Cameron Bure was asked if GAF’s programming would feature same-sex couples in an interview with the Wall Street Journal earlier this week. She responded that her upcoming work with the network would “keep traditional marriage at the core” of its storytelling.
Former Hallmark Channel CEO Bill Abbott, who now runs GAF, added:
“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.'”
Cameron Bure’s remarks sparked outrage online, with JoJo Siwa calling him “rude and hurtful” to the LGBTQIA+ community.