Actor and producer Trevor Donovan called fellow Great American Media star Candace Cameron Bure “kind and passionate about her faith.” In a recent interview with Variety, Donovan addressed the controversy that arose among some fans when Bure said her new movies for Great American Family will “keep traditional marriage at the core.”
“I feel people should be and believe what they want, as long as they are kind and accepting of others,” Donovan told Variety. “For those of you who have followed me since 90210, you know my heart and character. No matter who you love, no matter what your race or religion is, you matter.”
He added, “Through mutual respect and acceptance, coexistence is possible. Based on the few months I have known Candace, I have found her to be kind, and passionate about her faith.”
Candace Cameron Bure’s comments
Some fans took offense to a statement Bure made in a recent Wall Street Journal article. When asked if the new network she is partnering with will feature same-sex storylines, Bure said her movies will keep traditional marriage at the core.
The head of the network, former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, also answered the question, saying anything is possible.
“It’s certainly the year 2022, so we’re aware of the trends,” he said. “There’s no whiteboard that says, ‘Yes, this’ or ‘No, we’ll never go here.’”
Both Bure and Abbott said the network will be focused on telling more meaningful stories. Bure joked that her kids have even come to recognize some of the cliches that have become part of Christmas movies.
“My own kids have said, ‘Mom, are you leaving the big city and going to the farm, meeting the love of your life?’” Bure said. “Those are all fun things that we love, but we see over and over and over.”
Trevor weighs in
While many fans had no issue with Bure’s comments, some rom-com fans and celebrities were offended and accused Bure and Great American Media of bigotry.
When Donovan, who has also signed a contract with Great American Media, was interviewed for Variety, he talked about tolerance and complimented Bure on her kindness.
Donovan rose to fame playing Teddy Montgomery on the TV series 90210. His character came out as gay in the third season and eventually married his partner in a Las Vegas ceremony.
He went on to guest star in TV shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Melissa & Joey, and Drop Dead Diva. In 2017, he starred in the Hallmark Channel movie Marry Me at Christmas. He made a handful of Hallmark movies — including USS Christmas, Snowcoming, and Nantucket Noel — before announcing that he would be working with Abbott’s new network.
In his recent interview, Donovan said he was inspired to join the new network because of the support Abbott gave to his anti-bullying program Upstanders while they were both with Hallmark. He also said he looks forward to producing content.
“It has always been my goal to create films that bring people together without being overtly political or religious, and I will continue to do so,” he said. “And sometimes, in future rom-coms, I’ll play the naive country boy who finds love in the big city or saves his family’s farm. Stay tuned!”
"Through mutual respect and acceptance, coexistence is possible. Based on the few months I have known Candace, I have found her to be kind, and passionate about her faith.”
