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Zola controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2019

    Hallmark reverses decision to pull Zola ad and announces steps

    Company response

    After backlash over pulling a Zola ad featuring a same-sex couple, Hallmark said the decision was wrong and that Hallmark Channel would contact Zola to reestablish the partnership and reinstate the commercials. Hallmark also said it would work with GLAAD to better represent the LGBTQ community across its brands.

    Stated objective. better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands

    Company response

    • Remediation — Hallmark

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

    • Apology — Hallmark

      We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused

    Source excerpt

    • Hallmark has changed it's mind on pulling a same-sex ad after major backlash from everyone after the story broke that they pulled the Zola ad.
    • "Hallmark will be working with GLAAD [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands," the statement continued. "The Hallmark Channel will be reaching out to Zola to reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials."
    • The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we've seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused. Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision.
    Source

  2. 2019

    Hallmark reverses removal of same-sex wedding ads and apologizes

    Company response

    Hallmark Channel reversed its decision to remove Zola commercials featuring same-sex couples and apologized for removing them. The decision followed public backlash; GLAAD had called the removal discriminatory.

    Company response

    • Apology — Hallmark Channel

      the Hallmark Channel today reversed its ban on the advertisements and apologized for pulling them in the first place

    • Remediation — Hallmark Channel

      the Hallmark Channel today reversed its ban on the advertisements

    • Clarification — Hallmark Channel

      The network said in a statement it decided to pull the commercials because the "debate surrounding these commercials on all sides was distracting from the purpose of our network, which is to provide entertainment value."

    Source excerpt

    • As the CEO of Hallmark, I am sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused.
    • The Hallmark Channel is reversing its decision to pull advertisements featuring same-sex couples and apologizing for removing them in the first place, a network spokeswoman told CNN Business.
    • Zola said earlier that the ads pulled were among several similar commercials slated to run on Hallmark and that "the only difference between the commercials that were flagged and the ones that were approved" is that the flagged ads included a lesbian couple kissing.
    Source