Hallmark Channel apologises for pulling ads featuring same-sex weddings
<p>The Hallmark Channel is backtracking on their decision to pull advertisements featuring same-sex couples and apologising for removing them in the first place.</p>
<p>The decision comes after Hallmark parent company Crown Media Family Networks faced criticism from viewers and advertisers over the TV spot, with them threatening to boycott the network.</p>
<p>The ads, from online wedding planning company Zola, showed same-sex couples celebrating marriages.</p>
<p>Hallmark president and CEO Mike Perry said Sunday the company made the “wrong decision” and wants to reinstate the commercials.</p>
<p>“The Crown Media team has been agonising over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused. Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision,” Perry said in a statement to<span> </span><em>CNN Business.</em></p>
<p>“Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions, and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives. Anything that detracts for this purpose is not who we are,” he said.</p>
<p>“As the CEO of Hallmark, I am sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused.”</p>
<p>Zola said earlier that the ad was one of several that were scheduled to run on Hallmark and that “the only difference between the commercials that were flagged and the ones that were approved” is that the flagged ads included a lesbian couple kissing.</p>
<p>They then revealed that an ad featuring a heterosexual couple kissing was approved.</p>
<p>One of the ads in question shows a lesbian couple at the altar on their wedding day, talking about whether they should have used Zola to share details of their ceremony and registry with their guests.</p>
<p>But after conservative group One Million Mums targeted the network, demanding for the ads to be taken down, Hallmark caved into the pressure.</p>
<p>In its original statement, Hallmark said it pulled the ads because the “debate surrounding these commercials on all sides was distracting from the purpose of our network, which is to provide entertainment value.”</p>
<p>But now, CEO Perry says that Hallmark will discuss with Zola on ways to “reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials.” It will also work with the advocacy organisation GLAAD to “better represent” the LGBTQ community across its brands.</p>
