Hallmark President and CEO Wonya Lucas will be stepping down from her role at the end of the year.
Lucas replaced former President and CEO Bill Abbott in 2020 following the backlash over Hallmark removing a commercial showing a homosexual couple. Her plan was to prioritize increasing “representation” and wanting to tell more “diverse and inclusive” stories.
However, amid the controversy, Lucas witnessed the mass exodus of Hallmark’s biggest celebrities, including “Full House” stars Candace Cameron Bure and Lori Loughlin, “Beverly Hills 90210” actress Jennie Garth, “90210” actor Trevor Donovan and “Where Calls the Heart” actor Daniel Lissing, as reported by Daily Wire.
“I am honored to have led this company and am tremendously proud of the progress we’ve made by creating an evolved entertainment experience that inspires meaningful, emotionally connected moments for our audiences,” Lucas said in a statement. “My passion for the Hallmark brand has grown in deeply rewarding ways and will remain paramount as I continue to help guide Hallmark Media’s future in a more strategically focused capacity.”
After three years at the helm, Hallmark Media President & CEO Wonya Lucas will exit her current role at the end of year, the company announced Tuesday. Lucas will continue to serve on the Hallmark Media Board of Directors https://t.co/gWPBmYlXCv
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) August 8, 2023
Lucas worked with Mike Perry, President and CEO of Hallmark Companies, to partner with GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) to “better represent the LGBTQ community.”
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“Hallmark is, and always has been, committed to diversity and inclusion – both in our workplace as well as the products and experiences we create,” the network said in a 2019 statement. “It is never Hallmark’s intention to be divisive or generate controversy. We are an inclusive company and have a track record to prove it.”
Consumers have spoken, and they don’t want progressivism and wokeness in their family-oriented content. People love Hallmark for the wholesome, innocent and simplistic stories we all know and love.
Instead of appeasing leftists who probably wouldn’t watch much of the channel by implementing “inclusive” stories that hardly anyone asked for, Hallmark needs to stick to serving their audience and giving them the “family-oriented” stories they want.
Maybe they’ll address that in whoever takes over next year.
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