Jonathan Bennett, one of the stars of Hallmark’s first gay Christmas movie, has spoken out about Candace Cameron Bure’s “traditional marriage” comments.
After Candace Cameron Bure made it clear that there are currently no plans to include LGBTQ+ stories in her holiday movie lineup at Great American Family, actor Jonathan Bennett just feels a lot more proud now to be involved with Hallmark where the opposite is happening. Hallmark Channel will debut next month The holiday sitter, a film that serves as the first gay-led Christmas movie made for the network. It contrasts with what Bure said when GAF focused on “traditional marriage” films as part of an effort to focus primarily on faith-based content.
In The holiday sitter, Bennett stars as a workaholic bachelor named Sam who unexpectedly finds romance when he meets Jason (George Krissa), a neighbor of niece and nephew Sam who is babysitting for the holidays. Speak with E! NewsBennett addressed the controversy involving Bure by expressing his admiration for Hallmark for broadcasting LGBTQ+-led films, beginning with The holiday sitter. As Bennett says:
“I’m just proud to be part of the Hallmark Channel that does so many inclusive programs The holiday sitter, an LGBTQ+-led Christmas film. I’m just so proud to be on the Hallmark Channel making these movies for everyone because Christmas is for everyone and Hallmark is for everyone.”
Bennett also teased that viewers will love it The holiday sitter by saying this about the Christmas movie.
“It’s the funniest movie with so much heart and so much humor. And I think audiences will absolutely love it.”
The holiday sitter will premiere on Hallmark on December 11, 2022.
Candace Cameron Bure says she loves everyone
There was a lot of controversy Bure sparked when she spoke about traditional marriage on Great American Family. She later posted a statement online explaining that her comments were taken out of context and that she was not intolerant of the LGBTQ+ community or any other group of people. She also said that people of “all ethnicities and identities” will work on these films and contribute to the network in other ways. According to Bure, the exclusion of LGBTQ+ content with her series of holiday programs has more to do with creating a niche in television that specifically targets viewers with more “traditional” Christian values.
“I’ve long wanted to find a home for more faith-based programming,” Bure says in the statement. “I am grateful to be an integral part of a young and growing network. I had also mentioned 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.”
The first holiday movie being made for Great American Family with Bure is A Christmas presentwhich will debut on November 27, 2022.