“Full House” actress Candace Cameron Bure has a message for the many hateful trolls she comes across online: be nicer.
Earlier this month, the former co-host of “The View” snapped back at online critics who mocked a photo she posted of her family, saying it looked like a weird Ralph Lauren ad. In a Facebook post at the time, she lamented about the “many unkind comments” she received and rejected those who might say she should just ignore the haters.
“I posted my family Christmas photo and sadly, there were so many unkind comments. Do you think it’s funny to criticize someone’s children? To make jokes about them? To critique our poses? The direction in which we are looking? Our physical appearance and facial expressions? I wished blessings upon everyone as I shared it in the spirit of a happy new year, yet so many of you came back with jokes about our appearance and criticism of what you thought would have been a better photo,” she said. “Shame on you. It doesn’t matter if you’re 10 or 90 years old, rude is rude. Be better than that. I’m praying for humanity. Manners and respect. If you don’t like something, just move on. There are people and real feelings behind every screen.”
Weeks later, the actress then found herself at the center of another social media hatefest when trolls began to criticize her for following both conservative and progressive political figures on her Instagram and Twitter accounts.
“I read several comments from people, and I think there’s quite a bit of new followers, so thank you if you’re still around for following me here,” she said in an Instagram story. “People that were disappointed or told me that they were unfollowing me because of the people I choose to follow on Instagram. And it’s always strange to me because I follow a very broad range of people — politically, within my work industry and then personal friends and things I like.”
“But a follow does not mean an endorsement,” she added.. “A follow does not mean I agree with everything they say and do. It just means I follow a broad range of people so that I have perspective. I want to know what’s going on in the world, I want to hear different sides of the argument. I follow people in entertainment that I don’t necessarily agree with or act the same way, but I want to hear what our society, what culture is dishing out.”
Speaking with E! on Monday, Bure said that people on the internet need to remember that they are talking to a “real person.”
“You know, people forget that — yes, I’m a celebrity — but I’m a real person,” she said. “I was simply sharing a family Christmas card. And it’s so strange to me that people have the audacity to write horrible and negative comments. Like, you would never say that to someone’s face.”
Bure said that people need to “keep their mouth shut.”
“It was more about a reminder, like, I’m sharing the best of what I believe my family is on a Christmas card, so keep your mouth shut,” she said. “If you don’t like it, just scroll on.”
Last September, a vocal minority of evangelical Christians criticized Candace Cameron Bure for posting a goofy PDA photo with her husband of over 20 years that showed him appearing to cup her breast. At the time, the “Fuller House” actress issued a non-apology, telling people to lighten up.
“For all of the Christians that are questioning my post with my husband’s hand on my boob — my husband of 24 years — thinking it was inappropriate, it makes me laugh because it’s my husband,” she said. “We have so much fun together.”
“He can touch me any time he wants, and I hope he does. This is what a healthy, good marriage and relationship is all about,” she continued. “I’m sorry if it offended you — I’m actually not sorry. I’m glad we have fun together after so many years. He can touch me all day long.”
Related: Candace Cameron Bure Responds To Haters Of Her New Years Family Photo: ‘Be Better Than That’