Hilarie Burton Calls Out Bigotry At Hallmark Channel

Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic.

Holidays at the Hallmark Channel aren’t off to the happiest start.

After the network pulled a string of ads featuring same-sex kissing between two women — a move that inspired a viral hashtag and a couple of disses on Saturday Night Live — actress Hilarie Burton spoke out about “bigotry” behind the scenes of Hallmark’s expansive Christmas movie universe.

On Sunday, Burton 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,” Burton wrote. “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.’

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“I left it. And the paycheck,” she continued. “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.”

Just going through some old emails from a #Hallmark job I was “let go” from back in January. 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
— Hilarie Burton Morgan (@HilarieBurton) December 15, 2019

Requests were honored, I was told “take it or leave it”.
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?
— Hilarie Burton Morgan (@HilarieBurton) December 15, 2019

Id walk away again in a heartbeat. The bigotry comes from the top and permeates the whole deal over there. I’ve been loudly cheering for @lifetimetv all year because they heard my concerns + RALLIED! You want inclusive Christmas magic?! We got it.
Love is love🏳️‍🌈🎄💖 #receipts
— Hilarie Burton Morgan (@HilarieBurton) December 15, 2019

Burton said that with her husband’s financial and emotional support, she was able to stick to her morals. She turned instead to Lifetime, another long-standing Christmas movie juggernaut, and successfully hashed out a more inclusive deal over 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.”

Burton’s story is also a reminder that while Hallmark’s Christmas movie lineup is extensive, there are other places to get your sugary holiday rom-com fix this season. Streaming giants have stepped into the Christmas movie game: Hulu and Amazon Prime both have new and classic Christmas-themed films available on their platforms, and Netflix has its own original made-for-TV Christmas movie offerings.

And, of course, there’s Lifetime’s slate of holiday movies. The network is debuting 28 new movies this year — including A Christmas Wish, which Burton stars in.

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