Burton critical of Hallmark

Actress Hilarie Burton is accusing the Hallmark Channel of bigotry for denying her requests for an inclusive cast on a former project, Entertainment Tonight reported on Monday. “I had insisted on a LGBTQ character, an interracial couple and diverse casting. I was polite, direct and professional,” the 37-year-old actress tweeted, saying her notes were not incorporated and she ultimately left the job. “The bigotry comes from the top and permeates the whole deal over there.” The channel is under fire for removing commercials featuring same-sex couples. Following a social media backlash and calls for a boycott, Hallmark said it would reinstate the ads.