The Bures are trending on social media for all the wrong reasons

Candace Cameron Bure, wife of former NHL Valeri Bure and former television child star most known for her role as D.J. Tanner on Full House, is trending on social media after making a controversial announcement in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

With television network Hallmark releasing more and more progressive and inclusive productions including plot-lines involving same sex relationships, Bure announced that she will be leaving the company and joining the Christian-based Great American Family network instead.

“My heart wants to tell stories that have more meaning and purpose and depth behind them,” she said about making the change. “I knew that the people behind Great American Family were Christians that love the Lord and wanted to promote faith programming and good family entertainment.”

Bure says that Hallmark no longer aligns with her Christian ideals. “(Hallmark) basically is a completely different network than when I started because of the change of leadership.”

Fan have blasted Bure for what they call an intolerant view of non-traditional relationships.

I mean, just check out some of these responses:

Messages like the above have prompted Bure to make a very long statement.

Read below:

“I would like to address my comments on Great American Family’s programming as reported in ‘The Wall Street Journal.’ All of you who know me, know beyond question that I have great love and affection for all people. It absolutely breaks my heart that anyone would ever think I intentionally would want to offend and hurt anyone. It saddens me that the media is often seeking to divide us, even around a subject as comforting and merry as Christmas movies. But, given the toxic climate in our culture right now, I shouldn’t be surprised. We need Christmas more than ever,” she wrote. “I am a devoted Christian. Which means that I believe that every human being bears the image of God. Because of that, I am called to love all people, and I do. If you know me, you know that I am a person who loves fiercely and indiscriminately. My heart yearns to build bridges and bring people one step closer to God, to love others well, and to simply be a reflection of God’s huge love for all of us.”

She continued, “To the members of the media responsible for using this opportunity to fan flames of conflict and hate, I have a simple message: I love you anyway. To those who hate what I value and who are attacking me online: I love you. To those who have tried to assassinate my character: I love you. To everyone reading this, of any race, creed, sexuality, or political party, including those who have tried to bully me with name-calling, I love you.

“I have long wanted to find a home for more faith-based programming. I am grateful to be an integral part of a young and growing network. I had also expressed in my interview, which was not included, that people of all ethnicities and identities have and will continue to contribute to the network in great ways both in front of and behind the camera, which I encourage and fully support. I’ve never been interested in proselytizing through my storytelling, but in celebrating God’s greatness in our lives through the stories I tell.

The God we serve is a wildly creative and loving God. He didn’t just capture a small part of my heart, He has captured all of my heart. He will be reflected in everything I do and say; in my family, my work and my interactions with people from all walks of life, God’s love and God’s compassion is front and center. All of that comes from the LOVE that God himself showered upon humanity when he gave the gift of joy and forgiveness on the first Christmas morning 2000 years ago. It is why I love Christmas stories and sharing true joy and true peace with millions of people around the world. And in the sole motivation of pure love, I hope you’ll join me in sharing God’s hope for all the world this Christmas season. Call that my Christmas wish.”

- Candace Cameron Bure

To me, someone with no intention to watch anything ever produced by either Hallmark or Great American Family and who doesn't identify with Christianity or "Christian values", I don't see what the big deal is. I certainly don't see anything hateful or discriminatory in Bure's statement. She simply wants to work for a production company that more aligns with her world view. There should be no shame in that. Her values may not be the same as mine, but that's besides the point. She never said anything hurtful or hateful to anyone and is simply looking to take her career in a different directions. Again, no shame in that.