JoJo Siwa is sounding off over Candace Cameron Bure’s comments that her Great American Family TV series will focus on “traditional marriage” rather than members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Honestly, I can’t believe after everything that went down a few months ago, that he would not only make a film with the intention of excluding LGBTQIA+, but then talk about it to the press. This is rude and hurtful to an entire community of people,” Siwa posted on Instagram.
The message received support from Bure’s Fuller House co-star Jodie Sweetin, who responded to the post by adding: “You know I love you.”
Siwa and Bure had a bit of a stir earlier this year when a viral TikTok video had the Dance Moms claiming the Fuller House actor was the “rudest celebrity.” It turns out that when Siwa was 11, she attended a red carpet for the Netflix series and asked Bure for a photo. Bure refused to take a picture with the dancer and proceeded to take pictures with other people.
Bure reached out to Siua to talk and they were able to clear it up with Siua saying that now she understands the pressure of being on the red carpet, but at a young age she didn’t.
Bure’s comments appeared in a Wall Street Journal article revealing why she left Hallmark for Great American Family.
“It’s basically a completely different network than when I started because of the change in leadership,” he told the publication.
Her comments come as Hallmark is diversifying its narrative and is set to premiere its first holiday movie featuring a same-sex couple called The Holiday Sitter. After Bure’s interview went viral, GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) issued a statement inviting the actor to a conversation.
“It is irresponsible and hurtful for Candace Cameron Bure to use tradition as a pretext for exclusion,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “I would love to have a conversation with Bure about my wife, our children and our family traditions. Bure is out of sync with the growing majority of believers, including LGBTQ people of faith, who know that LGBTQ couples and families deserve love and visibility.”
Ellis said Bure’s statement “is harmful and offensive to LGBTQ employees, as well as employees with LGBTQ friends and family.”
“If GAF’s plan is to intentionally exclude stories about LGBTQ couples, then actors, advertisers, cable and streaming platforms, and production companies should take note and seriously consider whether they want to be associated with a network that has the exclusion as one of his values. Ellis concluded.
