The Hallmark Channel brings to mind holidays, happy endings and now, incongruously, a college admissions scam that involves one of the channelB次元官网网址檚 favoured actresses.
Lori LoughlinB次元官网网址檚 surprising arrest this week poses a challenge for the family-friendly brand with heartland roots.
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The allegation that Loughlin paid bribes to gain her daughtersB次元官网网址� college admissions is unconnected to Hallmark, but her career and the channel have become intertwined. SheB次元官网网址檚 among its so-called B次元官网网址淐hristmas queensB次元官网网址� who topline a slate of popular holiday movies, and stars in the ongoing B次元官网网址淕arage Sale MysteriesB次元官网网址� movies and the series B次元官网网址淲hen Calls the Heart.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a feel-good, family values-type channel, and obviously scandal is the opposite of that,B次元官网网址� said Atlanta-based market strategist Laura Ries. B次元官网网址淲ill people get past that to love the character on screen and not the real person?B次元官网网址�
While Hallmark has taken a wait-and-see attitude on Loughlin, thereB次元官网网址檚 more at issue than whether her appeal survives. B次元官网网址淲hen Calls the HeartB次元官网网址� tapes in Canada, and a judge ordered LoughlinB次元官网网址檚 passport to be surrendered in December after grudgingly allowing her to cross the border for work until then.
Loughlin has not yet entered a plea in the case, and her attorney declined comment Wednesday after her first appearance in a Los Angeles federal court.
The actress also reprised her role as Aunt Becky for NetflixB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淔uller HouseB次元官网网址� reboot of the popular series that originated in 1987 on ABC. But the sitcom represents a fraction of the streamerB次元官网网址檚 flood of programs, while Loughlin has occupied an increasing amount of Hallmark real estate since she starred in B次元官网网址淢eet My MomB次元官网网址� in 2010.
Initially silent when the allegations were announced, Hallmark issued a statement Wednesday, the day Loughlin surrendered to authorities: B次元官网网址淲e are aware of the situation and are monitoring developments as they arise.B次元官网网址�
The Associated Press
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