Neal Bledsoe cuts ties with Great American Family after Candace Cameron Bure's ... trends now
Neal Bledsoe announced his exit from the Great American Family (GAF) network on Friday, following Candace Cameron Bure's comments about 'traditional marriage.'
After the Full House star, 46, praised GAF for focusing on hetrosexual couples, the 41-year-old actor vocalized his support for the LGBTQIA+ community in an emotional statement.
'My life wouldn't be where it is today without the love, support, and guidance of the LGBTQIA+ community,' Bledsoe told Variety.
Cutting ties: Neal Bledsoe announced his exit from the Great American Family (GAF) network on Friday, following Candace Cameron Bure's comments about 'traditional marriage' (seen in 2019)
He continued: 'From my mentors in college, to the myriad of agents and managers, writers and directors, teachers and colleagues, and, of course, my dear friends and family, who have all touched my life, I owe them a great debt.'
After years of struggling with 'society's extremely narrow definition of masculinity', the star, who grew up in Seattle, the LGBTQIA+ community provided him 'refuge and a guiding light.'
'And now, if I cannot stand up for that community in their time of need, my debt to them means nothing,' Bledsoe explained of his decision to sever ties with GAF.
Controversial: After the Full House star, 46, praised GAF for focusing on hetrosexual couples , the 41-year-old actor vocalized his support for the LGBTQIA+ community in an emotional statement; seen in 2019
'So, I want to be very clear: my support for the LGBTQIA+ community is unconditional – nothing is worth my silence or their ability to live and love freely in a world that we are lucky enough to share with them,' the Winter Palace added.
Bure's controversial statements affected his view of the network and has actively not promoted his upcoming film, Christmas at the Drive-In, with them.
After Bure took over the job as the chief creative officer at GAF, he says he could not conduct 'business as usual' if they do not plan to include same-gender relationships in new programming.
Backlash: Bure's controversial statements affected his view of the network and has actively not promoted his upcoming film, Christmas at the Drive-In, with them; seen in 2020
'I was raised as a Christian, and believe in the essential message of love and forgiveness,' he concluded. 'That said, I could never forgive myself for continuing my relationship with a network that actively chooses to exclude the LGBTQIA+ community.'
Bledsoe did not explicitly use Bure's name when saying that discriminatory comments made by leadership are 'hurtful, wrong, and reflect an ideology that prioritizes judgement over love.'
Last month, Bure responded to criticism of her statements that her new television home Great American Family would not be featuring gay couples in lead roles.
Last month, Bure responded to criticism of her statements that her new television home Great American Family would not be featuring gay couples in lead roles; seen in 2019
In a lengthy statement provided to People, Bure defended herself and the network and said that the backlash from stars including JoJo Siwa and Hilarie Burton 'breaks' her heart.
While Bure claimed that people of 'all ethnicities and identities' would be able to 'contribute to the network' both on screen and behind the camera, she
