Actress Lacey Chabert made it clear that she was standing by the Hallmark Channel after former network star Candace Cameron Bure left to pursue a relationship with competing channel Great American Family.
Bure, who made a number of Christmas movies and starred in a mystery-movie franchise at Hallmark, announced the surprise move in early 2022. She later explained that the change in leadership at Hallmark had factored into her decision — as did her personal faith and her desire to keep telling stories with traditional marriage at the center of the story.
The “Fuller House” star’s comments drew backlash from a number of people, ranging from long-time co-star Jodie Sweetin to “One Tree Hill” and former Hallmark actress Hilarie Burton Morgan. Actor Neal Bledsoe, who had also made the move to Great American Family, abruptly cut ties with the network in the wake of Bure’s comments.
Chabert, who took over some of the Christmas promotional duties in Bure’s absence, defended Hallmark. Saying that she had “found a real home” with the channel, Chabert explained in a recent interview with Vulture: “I’m able to be more of who I am here than possibly anywhere else I’ve worked.”
“Any shift I’ve felt has been embracing our creative ideas,” Chabert said, responding to Bure’s claim that the change in leadership at Hallmark had made the network a very different place. “And it’s my responsibility to the audience who continue to tune into my movies that I give the best I have to offer. That’s always my mission. I’ll never abandon what Hallmark means for me, which is that everything is centered around the heart. I don’t think there are any plans for that to change anytime soon.”
The “Mean Girls” alum refused to go any further, however, explaining that she bore no ill will toward the actors and actresses who had chosen to leave the Hallmark Channel.
“You know what, I wish everybody the best. I really can’t comment on it further other than I care about everybody involved,” she said.
Chabert has appeared in some 30 movies during her tenure with the Hallmark Channel and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.