Actress Candace Cameron Bure responded to criticism of her statements that her new television home Great American Family would not be featuring gay couples in lead roles. She said the network "will keep traditional marriage at the core.”
In a lengthy statement, Bure defended herself and the network and said that the backlash from stars including JoJo Siwa and Hilarie Burton 'breaks my heart.'
While Bure, claimed that people of 'all ethnicities and identities' would be able to 'contribute to the network' both on screen and behind the camera, she appeared to avoid the issue of Great American Family's apparent ban on gay lead characters, while claiming the backlash was created by the 'media,' rather than the stars who took issue with her earlier statements.
Candace said, "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."
She continued, "I've never been interested in proselytizing through my storytelling, but in celebrating God's greatness in our lives through the stories I tell."
The actress added that she loves people of "any race, creed, sexuality, or political party, including those who have tried to bully me with name-calling."
Source: Hollywood Reporter, Instagram.
Photo Credit: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for iHeartMedia.