Date: December 15th, 2019 10:27 AM
Author: Chestnut home
Under pressure, Hallmark pulls gay-themed wedding ads
By JOCELYN NOVECK, AP National Writer|on December 15, 2019
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In this file photo taken on June 26, 2015 a rainbow flag is flown outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC. Photo: Molly Riley / AFP
Photo: Molly Riley / AFP
In this file photo taken on June 26, 2015 a rainbow flag is flown outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC.
NEW YORK (AP) — Under pressure from a conservative advocacy group, The Hallmark Channel has pulled ads for a wedding-planning website that featured two brides kissing at the altar.
The family-friendly network, which is in the midst of its heavily watched holiday programming, removed the ads because the controversy was a distraction, a spokesperson said in an interview Saturday.
“The debate surrounding these commercials on all sides was distracting from the purpose of our network, which is to provide entertainment value,” said a statement provided by Molly Biwer, senior vice president for public affairs and communications at Hallmark.
In an interview, she added: “The Hallmark brand is never going to be divisive. We don't want to generate controversy, we've tried very hard to stay out of it ... we just felt it was in the best interest of the brand to pull them and not continue to generate controversy."
There was immediate criticism on Twitter. Ellen DeGeneres asked Hallmark: “Isn't it almost 2020? What are you thinking? Please explain. We're all ears."
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4401620&forum_id=2#39267960)