In a surprising turn of events, Hallmark Channel has decided to withdraw several wedding ads from Zola that showcased a lesbian couple sharing a kiss. The decision came after the conservative group One Million Moms launched a petition urging Hallmark to reconsider airing commercials with same-sex couples. They claimed that Hallmark was compromising its family-friendly image and expressed frustration over what they termed a “gay agenda” being forced upon them.
The petition garnered over 25,000 signatures, leading Hallmark to pull four out of six commercials. According to reports, when Zola sought clarification regarding the decision, a Hallmark representative stated that the ads were deemed “controversial” due to the “public displays of affection” they contained. Notably, the commercials that were axed all featured same-sex couples, while another ad with a heterosexual couple kissing was allowed to air.
Mike Chen, Zola’s chief marketing officer, pointed out the inconsistency, stating, “The only difference between the commercials that were flagged and the ones that were approved was that the commercials that did not meet Hallmark’s standards included a lesbian couple kissing.”