Hilarie Burton Accuses Hallmark of Refusing Her Contract Demands of Inclusivity

0
168

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.”

Hilarie Burton Accuses Hallmark of Refusing Her Contract Demands of Inclusivity – nondon.net - Hilarie Burton Attends the Walking Dead Premiere and Party On September 23, 2019 In West Hollywood, California. #HilarieBurton #Hilarie #Burton #Hallmark #WalkingDead #Hollywood #California
Hilarie Burton attends The Walking Dead Premiere and Party on September 23, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Original Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for AMC, via MSN news)

“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.”

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.

Hilarie Burton Accuses Hallmark of Refusing Her Contract Demands of Inclusivity- nondon.net - #HilarieBurton and #JeffreyDeanMorgan attend the Special Screening Of #AMC’s #TheWalkingDead Season 10 at #Chinese6 #Theater– #Hollywood on September 23, 2019 in Hollywood, #California
Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan attend the Special Screening Of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” Season 10 at Chinese 6 Theater– Hollywood on September 23, 2019 in Hollywood, California. Original Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images, VIA: MSA news

“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”

Read the full story