Candace Cameron Bure is addressing the outrage over her recent comments.
Following the backlash she received after telling the The Wall Street Journal that the Great American Family network, where she serves as a chief creative officer, "will keep traditional marriage at the core," the Full House alum is trying to clarify where she stands.
"I have great love and affection for all people," Candace said in a statement Nov. 16. "It absolutely breaks my heart that anyone would ever think I intentionally would want to offend and hurt anyone."
She then elaborated on what type of stories might be told through the Great American Family network.
"I have long wanted to find a home for more faith-based programming," Candace said. "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."
Her response comes after multiple celebrities called out her suggestion that the Great American Family network has no plans to feature same-sex couples. JoJo Siwa—who came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in 2021—voiced her disappointment on Instagram.
"Honestly, I can't believe after everything that went down just a few months ago, that she would not only create a movie with intention of excluding LGBTQIA+, but then also talk about it in the press," JoJo wrote Nov. 15 alluding to the feud the two had earlier this year. "This is rude and hurtful to a whole community of people."
Hallmark star Jonathan Bennett weighed in on the 46-year-old's comments as well.
"I'm just proud to be part of Hallmark channel that is doing so much inclusive programming like The Holiday Sitter, which is an LGBTQ+ led Christmas movie," Jonathan exclusively told E! News referring to his new film. "I'm just so proud to be on Hallmark channel that's making these movies for everyone, because Christmas is for everyone and Hallmark channels are for everyone."
Candace was a mainstay on the Hallmark channel for 13 years, even earning the "Queen of Christmas" title from viewers before departing for GAF network earlier this year.
Read Candace's full statement below:
"I would like to address my comments on Great American Family's programming as reported in the Wall Street Journal. All of you who know me, know beyond question that I have great love and affection for all people. It absolutely breaks my heart that anyone would ever think I intentionally would want to offend and hurt anyone. It saddens me that the media is often seeking to divide us, even around a subject as comforting and merry as Christmas movies. But, given the toxic climate in our culture right now, I shouldn't be surprised. We need Christmas more than ever.
I am a devoted Christian. Which means that I believe that every human being bears the image of God. Because of that, I am called to love all people, and I do. If you know me, you know that I am a person who loves fiercely and indiscriminately. My heart yearns to build bridges and bring people one step closer to God, to love others well, and to simply be a reflection of God's huge love for all of us.
To the members of the media responsible for using this opportunity to fan flames of conflict and hate, I have a simple message: I love you anyway. To those who hate what I value and who are attacking me online: I love you. To those who have tried to assassinate my character: I love you. To everyone reading this, of any race, creed, sexuality, or political party, including those who have tried to bully me with name-calling, I love you.
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. 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 God we serve is a wildly creative and loving God. He didn't just capture a small part of my heart, He has captured all of my heart. He will be reflected in everything I do and say; in my family, my work and my interactions with people from all walks of life, God's love and God's compassion is front and center. All of that comes from the LOVE that God himself showered upon humanity when he gave the gift of joy and forgiveness on the first Christmas morning 2000 years ago. It is why I love Christmas stories and sharing true joy and true peace with millions of people around the world. And in the sole motivation of pure love, I hope you'll join me in sharing God's hope for all the world this Christmas season. Call that my Christmas wish."