Hallmark Caves To Idiots

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/15/zola-pulls-ads-from-hallmark-channel-after-network-censored-brides-kissing.html

Zola, which I’ve never heard of until today, is pulling their ads from the Hallmark Channel after One Million Karens sent a petition complaining about two women kissing in one of their ads. Hallmark pulled the ads portraying same sex weddings, but left the cis het ads up. Zola said thank ye kindly, but we’ll take our advertising elsewhere, stating: “All kisses, couples and marriages are equal celebrations of love and we will no longer be advertising on Hallmark”.

Good on Zola; I’ll keep them in mind for my next wedding. Not sure where I’ll be watching my cheesy holiday movies and garage sale/flowershop/bakeshop mysteries from now on.

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24 Comments

  1. I don’t think I’ve ever watched anything on the Hallmark Channel. But now I can claim it’s because their homophobic. 😉

    • I don’t watch it but it is always o. In my house from Halloween through Christmas; my wife (Mrs Menace, Captain Christmas) has tied up our DVR with their movies. Every one is the same theme, each with its own “Remember That Guy” actor and actress. With Candace Cameron Bure’s cheery conservative wholesomeness our front and center, I can’t say I am shocked that the channel doesn’t promote ladies having a snog.
      Me? I’d rather watch Christmas Vacation…

      • Don’t forget Brooke Shields and Alison Sweeney…It’s good for background while doing your cards or decorating. Mindless fluff, pretty little towns, hot hometown ex-boyfriends.

  2. Actually, this story is a couple of days old and there is good news today: Hallmark has reinstated the ads. Every single asshole like me on Twitter and elsewhere who harassed the shit out of Hallmark should learn that our voices can actually make a difference!

    Updated story: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hallmark-channel-same-sex-couple-ad-reinstate-commercials-after-outcry-2019-12-15/

    And a quote: (Sorry if there’s a better way to present this, I only know how to do this on Kinja lol)

    “The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused,” Hallmark CEO Mike Perry said in a statement Sunday night. “Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision.”

    “Hallmark will be working with GLAAD [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands,” the statement continued. “The Hallmark Channel will be reaching out to Zola to reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials.”

  3. Ok, so my comments are definitely disappearing. I was trying to point out that Hallmark reversed course today, which is great news! But after clicking “Post Comment” I just landed back here and there is no comment.

    Anyways, thanks for pointing out the site to me, Meg!

    • Welcome Quasar! We’ll see what’s up with that, because we definitely want to hear from you.

    • I believe this is fixed now, but please let us know if you’re still having issues.

      • I am still having issues. 🙁

        Also, I’m still having trouble commenting here. Just posted another one that fell into the void.

          • Ok, fourth attempt. Was mostly trying to share the updated story link and money quote. Here goes nothin’:

            https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hallmark-channel-same-sex-couple-ad-reinstate-commercials-after-outcry-2019-12-15/

            And the quote:

            “The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused,” Hallmark CEO Mike Perry said in a statement Sunday night. “Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision.”

            “Hallmark will be working with GLAAD [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands,” the statement continued. “The Hallmark Channel will be reaching out to Zola to reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials.”

          • Nope, not working.

            Am I not allowed to post links or something? I posted a link and a quote. Here is another try with just the quote:

            “The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused,” Hallmark CEO Mike Perry said in a statement Sunday night. “Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision.”

            “Hallmark will be working with GLAAD [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands,” the statement continued. “The Hallmark Channel will be reaching out to Zola to reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials.”

            • Ok please bear with us as we work to resolve the issue.

    • I’m so happy to see you! Welcome.

  4. I’ll try again, and see if it lets me.

    Updated story:

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hallmark-channel-same-sex-couple-ad-reinstate-commercials-after-outcry-2019-12-15/

    Key quote:

    “The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused,” Hallmark CEO Mike Perry said in a statement Sunday night. “Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision.”

    “Hallmark will be working with GLAAD [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands,” the statement continued. “The Hallmark Channel will be reaching out to Zola to reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials.”

  5. I’ll give credit to Hallmark for having the ads in the first place…then promptly take all of it away because of their idiotic caving to pressure. “Love is love” is practically an easy and safe stance to take nowadays. You’ll piss off some Beckys and some Karens but so what? They’re wrong, not you. And I’m sure the viewers you’d gain in appreciation will replace the lost haters.

    *Sigh*

  6. Thanks for fixing my issues!

    I had posted the following quote, from the following article, to point out that Hallmark realized they done fucked up:

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hallmark-channel-same-sex-couple-ad-reinstate-commercials-after-outcry-2019-12-15/

    “The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused,” Hallmark CEO Mike Perry said in a statement Sunday night. “Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision.”

    “Hallmark will be working with GLAAD [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands,” the statement continued. “The Hallmark Channel will be reaching out to Zola to reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials.”

  7. I’ll add my name to the chorus of people who had never heard of this company but are impressed that they took a stand.

  8. Let’s try again. I had been trying to post a link and a quote.

    Link:

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hallmark-channel-same-sex-couple-ad-reinstate-commercials-after-outcry-2019-12-15/

    Quote:

    “We were deeply troubled when Hallmark rejected our commercials for featuring a lesbian couple celebrating their marriage, and are relieved to see that decision was reversed,” Zola chief marketing officer Mike Chi said in an earlier statement Sunday. “We are humbled by everyone who showed support not only for Zola, but for all the LGBTQ couples and families who express their love on their wedding day, and every day.”

    Late last week, The Hallmark Channel removed multiple Zola ads showing a same-sex couple. Zola had initially submitted six ads to be aired on the network, four of which featured a same-sex couple. The Hallmark Channel removed those four ads, but continued airing the two that only showed same-sex couples. Zola then decided to pull all their ads soon after.

  9. I’ve never been big on Hallmark movies (I’m not really a fan of Christmas movies in general), and while I’m glad they reversed course on this, I’m still bothered by the fact that they caved to bigots in the first place. I guess what I’m saying is, I’ll happily continue not watching it, but I’ll be a bit wary of buying Hallmark merchandise in the future.

  10. And then they caved BACK, based on what their social media analyst told them I’m sure. Fuck these cowards, and fuck their focus-grouped approach to basic decency.

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