One month after pulling an advert featuring a same-sex couple, Bill Abbott, the CEO of Crown Media, parent company of Hallmark Channel, is out of a job.
The drama started back in December, when the Hallmark Channel yanked a commercial featuring a same-sex couple getting married after receiving pressure from the antigay hate group One Millions Moms.
At the time, Hallmark said it was doing so because the ad was “distracting from the purpose of our network, which is to provide entertainment value.”
A swift backlash ensued, with many criticizing the network for bowing to a homophobic hate group. Even Ellen, who rarely gets involved in these sorts of things, weighed in on the controversy, tweeting, “What are you thinking? Please explain. We’re all ears.”
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Isn’t it almost 2020? @hallmarkchannel, @billabbottHC… what are you thinking? Please explain. We’re all ears.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) December 15, 2019
Within 24 hours, the network revered course. In a statement, it apologized for making “the wrong decision” and said it was “truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused.”
“Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives. Anything that detracts from this purpose is not who we are.”
Then yesterday, Hallmark announced Bill Abbott has stepped down as chief executive of Crown Media Family Networks. Abbott had been with the company for 11 years.
In a statement, Mike Perry, president and CEO of Hallmark Cards, didn’t give a reason for Abbott’s abrupt exit, instead saying that it’s “more important than ever that we find relevant new ways to grow our business.”
“I want to thank Bill for his many years of success and contributions to Crown Media and wish him continued success,” Perry said. “I have tremendous confidence in the Crown Media management team and with this team in place, I will begin a search for Bill’s replacement.”
Related: Hallmark Channel CEO now says pulling same-sex ads was “wrong decision”
Cam
One of two things is my guess.
1. He’s the guy pushing to keep Hallmark movies all white, all straight, and all Christian and the board decided that times have changed and if they stuck with that they were going to start losing viewers.
2. He suggested that they diversify and a right wing board doesn’t want to.
justgeo
Go visit Kansas City in public no one is rude but in fact if you are not part of the others club (religion race whatever) you don’t exist. Provincialism to the max!!!!
IanHunter
I haven’t been to Kansas City. I will have to visit and check it out.
IWantAFullBeard
Huh? Kansas City is 30% black.
RickHeathen
He probably got an enormous golden parachute package, so no big deal.
DavidIntl
Just because this is a gay site doesn’t mean everything has to be about packages…
boymikefl
Well, with that jailbird still on the loose, the cat is out of the bag. Goody too shoes don’t exist. Only phony, gossipy, judgemental “church goers.” They are a dying breed, thank God.
Doug
There’s nothing in this article that says he was fired for temporarily pulling the commercial, except for Queerty’s headline.
DarkZephyr
Queerty’s headline gives no reason at all. It simply reports that this happened a month after the whole disaster.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Unfortunately this gives One Million (minus 960,000 at last count) miserable dusty barren sexually frustrated abhorrent noxious crunts something to claim as a “victory” as they do when a television show already destined for cancellation is after they urged a boycott.
Cam
I”m not sure about that. He may have been fired for backing down to them and pulling the commercial.
Bulovaboy
I have another name for One Million Mom’s and it ain’t pretty. You have no idea how many of your husbands and children are sneaking behind your backs. So Scream out Moms, Life is moving on with or without you.