The Hallmark Channel is facing a public boycott after caving to an anti-LGBTQ group that demanded the network not show an ad showing two women marrying each other.
"The Hallmark Channel pulled four TV ads featuring brides kissing each other on Thursday after a targeted campaign by a conservative group," The New York Times reported Saturday.
"Asked to explain why the ads had been rejected, an employee of Hallmark’s parent company said the channel did not accept ads 'that are deemed controversial,' according to an email exchange shared with The New York Times. A spokesman for Hallmark said the women’s 'public displays of affection' violated the channel’s policies, but he declined to comment on why a nearly identical ad featuring a bride and groom kissing was not rejected," the newspaper reported.
"The series of six ads, for the wedding planning website Zola, first appeared on the Hallmark Channel on Dec. 2. The ads, which feature several configurations of couples, all offer variations on the same concept: While standing at the altar, couples ponder whether guests would have arrived on time and bought them better gifts if only they had created a custom wedding website with Zola," The Times explained.
The Hallmark Channel was harshly criticized for the decision and #BoycottHallmark trended nationwide on Twitter.
Here's some of what people were saying:
Well done, @hallmarkchannel! You got #boycotthallmark trending because you caved to "One Million Moms." FUN FACT:… https://t.co/QoRd72InUX— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers) 1576368629.0
So One Million Moms complained about this & @hallmarkchannel pulled it? Well, I bet I can find One Million & One fe… https://t.co/hcvEC55Xau— Julia Pulver, BSN, RN, CCM (@Julia Pulver, BSN, RN, CCM) 1576367026.0
This is the lovely ad that @HallmarkChannel pulled from their broadcast after conservatives complained. A simple ki… https://t.co/cBfqxdXstn— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈) 1576365054.0
#boycotthallmark I will be cancelling my subscription to your channel, entering your store or buying your products… https://t.co/ivyFhQRYcN— J-Lee (@J-Lee) 1576363371.0
#HallmarkChannel needs to remember that the majority of America is NOT homophobic!! So are these hypocritical mothe… https://t.co/ZYnhTO3t2L— Froglet ™😷 🎀🏳️🌈🇺🇸 (@Froglet ™😷 🎀🏳️🌈🇺🇸) 1576358873.0
.@hallmarkchannel you do realize that same sex marriage is the law of the land (see Obergefell v. Hodges). what a h… https://t.co/5q4VtNHYJN— Dwight Williams (@Dwight Williams) 1576362795.0
We will not be watching any more Hallmark movies this season...I hope that the talent will speak out about this rid… https://t.co/IboUclzmzw— TheDemars (@TheDemars) 1576359157.0
Wow. Just wow. Shame on you @hallmarkchannel Love between two women isn’t explicit content. I’ll be finding my… https://t.co/JJKw6GC7Z1— Simone (@Simone) 1576363531.0
When a @hallmarkchannel spokesperson says the lesbian couple’s P.D.A. violated its policies, but a similar ad featu… https://t.co/v5Zyj8v4Wq— McGrain v. Daugherty, 273 U.S. 135 (1927) (@McGrain v. Daugherty, 273 U.S. 135 (1927)) 1576360898.0
If @hallmarkchannel thinks it's still 1955 and LGBT relations "violate their policies", then it violates MY policy… https://t.co/Oh12vAIbkh— Rose (@Rose) 1576364567.0
It’ll be a shame if this commercial Hallmark pulled after receiving bigoted complaints by the group One Million Mom… https://t.co/TxOs5LUsuY— Eugene Gu, MD (@Eugene Gu, MD) 1576367528.0
