Candace Cameron Bure is no longer the holiday movie queen of Hallmark Channel.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, the actress discussed her departure from that cable network to join the faith-based Great American Family.
“My heart is to tell stories with greater significance, purpose, and depth,” Bure told the outlet. “I knew that the creators of Great American Family were devout Christians who desired to promote faith-based programming and quality family entertainment.”
Cameron Bure, who identifies as a fervent Christian, serves as the channel’s chief creative officer and produces religious titles under her “Candace Cameron Bure Presents” banner.
Bill Abbott, CEO of Great American Media, is in charge of the new network.
Former chief executive officer of Crown Media Family Networks, the parent company of the Hallmark Channel, he was instrumental in guiding Cameron Bure’s career there.
According to the story, Cameron Bure defended an Oregon bakery’s contentious choice not to manufacture a wedding cake for a same-sex couple while she was co-hosting “The View” (she joined the show in 2015 and left in 2016).
While at Hallmark, Abbott refused to air advertisements for the wedding-planning service Zola that featured two brides kissing. This raises the question of whether or not Great American Family will include LGBTQ-themed narratives in their upcoming productions.
Cameron Bure told the Journal, “I believe that Great American Family will retain conventional marriage at its center.”
Abbott was more reserved.
“It is definitely 2022, so we are aware of the trends,” he stated. There is no whiteboard that states “Yes, this” or “No, we will never go there.”