Why Candace Cameron Bure is Leaving Hallmark Channel

Candace Cameron Bure has become synonymous with the Hallmark Channel thanks to her appearances in many of the network's Christmas movies. The actor's time with Hallmark is now over, however, after she signed an overall deal with GAC Family.

The former Full House actor will be appearing in and developing rom-coms and holiday films for the network, which has recently been on something of a spending spree to snatch up Hallmark talent.

Bure joins the GAC stable six months after fellow Hallmark star Danica McKellar joined the network—and a few months after the network became the first to welcome back Lori Loughlin after her prison sentence over the college admissions scandal.

Bure's move to GAC Family means that she will not only not appear in any more Hallmark films, but also that her Aurora Teagarden Mysteries series for the network is also believed to be over.

Why is Candace Cameron Bure leaving Hallmark?

It seems that GAC (formerly Great American Channel) has made Bure an offer she cannot refuse—or that Crown Media (who own Hallmark) could not match.

As well as producing, developing and starring in movies and TV shows across both GAC Family and GAC Living, Bure is also taking on what TV Line called a "prominent executive role" at the company.

In a statement, Bure said of this, "GAC fits my brand perfectly; we share a vision of creating compelling wholesome content for an audience who wants to watch programming for and with the whole family."

Though reportedly Bure's GAC deal is not exclusive, there are currently no plans for her to film any more Hallmark Christmas films or Aurora Teagarden. Hallmark said of her exit in a statement: "Crown Media has enjoyed over 10 years of collaboration with Candace. We respect her decision and thank her for her many contributions."

Bure's departure also sees her reunited with former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott, who managed Hallmark when the actor first began appearing in its films. Abbott left the company in January 2020 after a controversy that saw the network remove a commercial featuring a same-sex couple, only to reinstate it following a backlash.

During his tenure at the company, Hallmark was also criticized for a lack of diversity in its programming—it was only following his exit, for example, that the channel released its first Christmas movie featuring a same-sex couple.

While Hallmark was diversifying its programming, Abbott took control of GAC with backing from Hicks Equity Partners, a business with ties to the Republican National Committee and the Trump family with plans to create "a family-friendly programming destination of broad appeal based on traditional values" (per The New York Times). In a statement, Abbott said his mission was to "deliver on the promise of safe and entertaining storytelling."

Bure had previously praised the move toward more diversity at Hallmark, telling Insider: "Hallmark has definitely made changes in that direction, which we are all very, very happy to see...it's important to represent all people and all of their journeys and their family dynamics."

However, she has since become the latest star to join GAC from Hallmark. McKellar joined the network in November 2021, around the same time that GAC announced a roster of movies for the holidays that were entirely headlined by former Hallmark stars, including names such as Chad Michael Murray, Jennie Garth and Cameron Mathison.

Other Hallmark stars, meanwhile, publicly stated concerns about GAC. Hallmark actor Paul Campbell, for example, tweeted: "Like everyone else, I'll be watching the GAC content rollout closely. No, I will not work for that company if there is a noticeable lack of meaningful inclusion."