Great American Family’s Neal Bledsoe Leaves Network After Candace Cameron Bure Controversy

usmagazine.com:

The fallout from Candace Cameron Bure’s comments about portraying “traditional marriage” on Great America Family continues. Neal Bledsoe has announced he is stepping away from the network in a lengthy statement emphasizing his support for the LGBTQIA+ community.“My life wouldn’t be where it is today without the love, support, and guidance of the LGBTQIA+ community.

From my mentors in college, to the myriad of agents and managers, writers and directors, teachers and colleagues, and, of course, my dear friends and family, who have all touched my life, I owe them a great debt,” the 41-year-old actor began in a statement published by Variety on Monday, December 5. “As someone who struggled as a young man with our society’s extremely narrow definition of masculinity, it was their community that provided me with refuge and a guiding light when my life felt lost.

And now, if I cannot stand up for that community in their time of need, my debt to them means nothing. So, I want to be very clear: my support for the LGBTQIA+ community is unconditional – nothing is worth my silence or their ability to live and love freely in a world that we are lucky enough to share with them.”Bledsoe acknowledged that he’s been “unusually silent” ahead of the release of Christmas at the Drive-In, a film he appeared in alongside Danica McKellar, which premiered on November 25. (He last posted about the film in October.)“I cannot continue with business as usual.

I cannot take comfort from, nor will I give refuge to, those who excuse exclusion and promote division in any way, shape, or form.