Hilarie Burton is speaking out against Hallmark. In a series of tweets on Sunday, the 37-year-old actress claimed that she was “let go” from a job with the network after her contract demands for inclusivity were not met.
Burton’s tweets were posted after Hallmark came under fire for pulling an ad featuring a same-sex couple kissing at their wedding, after pressure from conservative group One Million Moms. The network has since apologized and reinstated the commercial.
“Just going through some old emails from a #Hallmark job I was ‘let go’ from back in January,” she began. “I had insisted on an LGBTQ character, an interracial couple and diverse casting. I was polite, direct and professional.”
“But after the execs gave their notes on the script and NONE of my requests were honored, I was told ‘take it or leave it.’ I left it. And the paycheck,” Burton continued.
“Sh**ty being penalized for standing up for inclusivity. I really wanted that job. It was close to my house. It paid really well. It was about the military, which you all know I hold dear.”
Requests were honored, I was told “take it or leave it”.
I left it. And the paycheck. Shitty being penalized for standing up for inclusivity. I really wanted that job. It was close to my house. It paid really well. It was about the military, which you all know I hold dear. But?— Hilarie Burton Morgan (@HilarieBurton) December 15, 2019
Despite all the positive aspects of the job, Burton said she’d “walk away again in a heartbeat.”
“The bigotry comes from the top and permeates the whole deal over there,” she wrote of Hallmark, before celebrating Lifetime, a competing network on which Burton has starred in multiple Christmas movies.
“Key point here: I have a wonderful husband @JDMorgan who works his a** off so I have the luxury to choose morals over paying bills,” she wrote. “Not everyone has that! Nor should we be forced to be dependent. If I had to cover our mortgage and was told ‘take it or leave it,’ I’d be f**ked.”
Morgan responded to his wife’s tweet, writing, “One, I do love you in an elf costume. Two, and most importantly… @Hallmark and @hallmarkchannel ?? Gross. No other words needed. #loveislove”
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