Hallmark Channel apologizes for pulling ad featuring lesbian wedding

The Hallmark Channel on Sunday apologized for their decision to remove an advertisement featuring a lesbian wedding and said they will work to get the spot back on television.

The network made the statement one day after they said they were removing ads for the wedding-planning site Zola after outcry from a conservative advocacy group.

“We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused,” Mike Perry, President and CEO of Hallmark Cards, said.

The network announced Saturday that it was removing the ads, saying the controversy had become a distraction.

The conservative group, One Million Moms, had complained to the CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, which is Hallmark’s parent company, after the network aired advertisements featuring the same-sex couple sharing a kiss at the altar.

But Perry said Sunday that the company was “agonizing” over their decision to pull the ad.

“The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused,” his statement read. “Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision.”

Perry went on to emphasize that Hallmark is “committed to diversity and inclusion” and “have a track record to prove it.”

“Hallmark will be working with GLAAD to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brand,” he said.

“The Hallmark Channel will be reaching out to Zola to reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials.”