Hilarie Burton Calls Out Hallmark Channel’s “Bigotry” Behind Its Christmas Movies

Published on December 16, 2019.
Brittany R

After the Hallmark Channel pulled multiple ads featuring same-sex weddings between two women, actress Hilarie Burton slammed the network’s “bigotry” behind its Christmas movies.

On Sunday, the former One Tree Hill star who has become known for her work in Lifetime Christmas movies tweeted about why she decided not to star in a Hallmark film earlier this year.

“Just going through some old emails from a #Hallmark job I was ‘let go’ from back in January,” she tweeted. “I had insisted on a LGBTQ character, an interracial couple and diverse casting. I was polite, direct and professional. But after the execs gave their notes on the script and NONE of my requests were honored, I was told ‘take it or leave it.’”

She continued, “I left it. And the paycheck. Shitty being penalized for standing up for inclusivity. I really wanted that job. It was close to my house. It paid really well. It was about the military, which you all know I hold dear. But? I’d walk away again in a heartbeat. The bigotry comes from the top and permeates the whole deal over there.”

Burton also noted that thanks to her husband’s financial and emotional support, she was able to stick to her principles. The actress then turned to Lifetime, another Christmas movie producer, and successfully worked out an inclusive deal with the network there.

“I’ve been loudly cheering for @lifetimetv all year because they heard my concerns + RALLIED!” she tweeted. “You want inclusive Christmas magic?! We got it. Love is love.”

Lifetime will debut 28 new Christmas movies this year, one including A Christmas Wish, which stars Burton and her former One Tree Hill costar Tyler Hilton.

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