Hallmark Apologizes For Pulling Same-Sex Wedding Commercial Following Backlash!

Hallmark is backtracking on the decision to pull commercials from their network featuring same-sex couples kissing at their weddings.

As you’ve likely heard, ads for the popular wedding planning website Zola were pulled by the channel after a petition was published by a conservative group. The commercials in question showed the couples — most of which are same-sex females — at the altar and wondering if their guests purchased gifts through the site.

In a statement obtained by multiple outlets on Sunday, Mike Perry, President and CEO of Hallmark Cards Inc. shared:

“The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused. Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision. Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions, and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives. Anything that detracts from this purpose is not who we are. We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused.”

Perry says that the company will reach out to Zola to “reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials,” while also working with the advocacy organization GLAAD to “better represent” the LGBTQ community:

“Across our brand, we will continue to look for ways to be more inclusive and celebrate our differences.”

This apology follows a petition which was published by One Million Moms, a division of the conservative American Family Association, urging the channel to no longer air the ads. In a statement to The New York Times on Friday, Crown Media Family Networks confirmed their decision:

“The debate surrounding these commercials on all sides was distracting from the purpose of our network, which is to provide entertainment value.”

Give the commercial — which the organization says was “forcing tolerance and acceptance of homosexuality” and promoting a “sinful lifestyle” — a watch for yourself (below):

Following Hallmark’s new apology, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis released a statement of her own:

“The Hallmark Channel’s decision to correct its mistake sends an important message to LGBTQ people and represents a major loss for fringe organizations, like One Million Moms, whose sole purpose is to hurt families like mine. LGBTQ people are, and will continue to be a part of advertisements and family programming and that will never change. GLAAD exists to hold brands like The Hallmark Channel accountable when they make discriminatory decisions and to proactively ensure families of all kinds are represented in fair and accurate ways.”

Prior to the new apology, the chief marketing officer for Zola, Mike Chi, explained his thoughts on what the root of the issue was for Hallmark:

“The only difference between the commercials that were flagged and the ones that were approved was that the commercials that did not meet Hallmark’s standards included a lesbian couple kissing. Hallmark approved a commercial where a heterosexual couple kissed. All kisses, couples and marriages are equal celebrations of love and we will no longer be advertising on Hallmark.”

Zola has yet to comment on Hallmark’s reversed decision.

Thoughts on all this, Perezcious readers??

[Image via Zola/YouTube.]