Hallmark Apologizes for Removing Same-Sex Wedding Commercials: “This Was the Wrong Decision”

Just one day after Crown Media’s Hallmark Channel pulled a series of commercials featuring same-sex couples, the company has backtracked and reinstated the ads. On Sunday, Hallmark Cards Inc. president and CEO Mike Perry apologized to wedding planning website Zola for removing the four ads, a decision that was made after conservative groups complained about the LGBTQ+ storyline. “This was the wrong decision,” said Perry in a statement. “We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused.”

In a statement published Sunday on Hallmark’s corporate website, Perry addressed the controversy and vowed to reinstate the same-sex Zola commercials. “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,” said the CEO. “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. … Across our brand, we will continue to look for ways to be more inclusive and celebrate our differences.”

Over the weekend, Hallmark Channel came under fire when news broke that the network had pulled four ads featuring same-sex couples at the altar. While most of the ads intercut multiple couples, one of the commercials focuses primarily on a lesbian couple as they question whether their wedding planning process would have been easier with Zola. When they finally agree that Zola would have streamlined the process, they kiss and walk happily back up the aisle (watch the ad above).

According to The Hollywood Reporter, shortly after the commercials began airing (on December 2), conservative groups like One Million Moms and Lifesite published petitions urging the network to cut “commercials with same-sex couples, and please do not add LGBT movies to the Hallmark Channel.” On Saturday, Hallmark confirmed Crown Media’s decision to pull four ads featuring LGBTQ+ storylines, telling THR, “The debate surrounding these commercials on all sides was distracting from the purpose of our network, which is to provide entertainment value.”

Hallmark and Crown Media’s decision prompted a swift reaction from LGBTQ+ groups and celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres and William Shatner. GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis also slammed the company, calling it “discriminatory and especially hypocritical,” but later applauded the reinstatement.

“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,” said Ellis in a statement. “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.”