The Hallmark Channel brings to mind holidays, happy endings and now, incongruously, a college admissions scam that involves one of the channel害羞草研究所檚 favoured actresses.
Lori Loughlin害羞草研究所檚 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 daughters害羞草研究所� college admissions is unconnected to Hallmark, but her career and the channel have become intertwined. She害羞草研究所檚 among its so-called 害羞草研究所淐hristmas queens害羞草研究所� who topline a slate of popular holiday movies, and stars in the ongoing 害羞草研究所淕arage Sale Mysteries害羞草研究所� movies and the series 害羞草研究所淲hen Calls the Heart.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a feel-good, family values-type channel, and obviously scandal is the opposite of that,害羞草研究所� said Atlanta-based market strategist Laura Ries. 害羞草研究所淲ill people get past that to love the character on screen and not the real person?害羞草研究所�
While Hallmark has taken a wait-and-see attitude on Loughlin, there害羞草研究所檚 more at issue than whether her appeal survives. 害羞草研究所淲hen Calls the Heart害羞草研究所� tapes in Canada, and a judge ordered Loughlin害羞草研究所檚 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 Netflix害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淔uller House害羞草研究所� reboot of the popular series that originated in 1987 on ABC. But the sitcom represents a fraction of the streamer害羞草研究所檚 flood of programs, while Loughlin has occupied an increasing amount of Hallmark real estate since she starred in 害羞草研究所淢eet My Mom害羞草研究所� in 2010.
Initially silent when the allegations were announced, Hallmark issued a statement Wednesday, the day Loughlin surrendered to authorities: 害羞草研究所淲e are aware of the situation and are monitoring developments as they arise.害羞草研究所�
The Associated Press
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