AMP in the post
Neal Bledsoe has left Great American Family following Candace Cameron Bure’s ‘traditional marriage’ comments.
Controversy still reigns following Candace Cameron Bure’s controversial comments about “traditional marriage” and Great American Family. Bure’s words were a dig at Hallmark Channel and its inclusivity. Meanwhile, the former Hallmark actress defended her words, saying much of her interview wasn’t fully represented. As the controversy continues, actor Neal Bledsoe has exited from Great American Family over her words.
Neal Bledsoe leaves Great American Family
Neal Bledsoe recently starred in Christmas at the Drive-In with Danica McKellar on Great American Family. However, he won’t be starring in any sequels as he recently announced that he will be leaving the network.
Bledsoe’s reasoning for leaving related to comments made by Candace Cameron Bure, the network’s chief creative officer, and Bill Abbott, its CEO. However, McKellar believes Neal got Candace’s words all wrong.
AMP in the post
Talking to Fox News Digital on Saturday, December 10, McKellar said, “Neal is a wonderful person. He’s such a great actor, and I have enjoyed working with him so much,” adding:
You know, I don’t agree with his interpretation of her comments. I just didn’t see them the same way.
The comments hailed from an interview between Bure and The Wall Street Journal. Talking of her new home at Great American Family, she said she didn’t expect her new network to feature same-sex couples as leads in holiday movies. The Full House and Fuller House alum said: “I think that Great American Family will keep traditional marriage at the core.”
Meanwhile, in the interview Bill Abbott spoke up, giving his thoughts on the topic:
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.’
AMP in the post
Why is Neal Bledsoe exiting the network?
After Bure and Abbott’s words, Bledsoe, who also starred with McKellar in the Great American movie, The Winter Palace, opened up to Variety last week. He told them he is stepping away from the feel-good channel, saying:
I hope GAF will change, but until everyone can be represented in their films with pride, my choice is clear. I look forward to working with creators who put no limits on the stories we tell and follow through on their message of values with open arms.
He said his support for the LGBTQIA+ community is “unconditional.” He added that nothing is worth his silence or their ability to live and love freely in a world that we are lucky enough to share with them, adding:
The recent comments made by leadership at Great American Family are hurtful, wrong, and reflect an ideology that prioritizes judgment over love.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, McKellar defended her friend and costar’s comments. She said that when Candace was talking about the portrayal of heterosexual couples in the movies, she started the sentence with “I think.”
According to Danica, this is not definitive, and Bure ended her comment with “at its core,” which she said doesn’t mean exclusively. Moreover, the Wonder Years and Hallmark alum said, “But I love [Bledsoe] to death and wish him well.”
So far, it is unclear whether Neal Bledsoe will return to Hallmark Channel, where he can star in inclusive and representative movies.