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The popular pro-life movie Unplanned recently gained three nominations for the 28th Annual MovieGuide awards in the USA, but every reference to the film was cut by cable channel Hallmark Drama in its televised coverage of the awards ceremony, in late February.
MovieGuide had recognised Unplanned as one the Best Movies for Mature Audiences and it received acclaim when screened last year by FamilyVoice Australia and other pro-life groups.
But its favourable mention during the MovieGuide awards was unplanned by Hallmark Drama, which censored any mention of the film in its cable broadcast of the event.
Unplanned received nominations for the Faith & Freedom Award as well as Best Movie for Mature Audiences, while the film’s star actor Ms Ashley Bratcher gained nomination for the Grace Award for most inspiring performance in a film.
“As many of you know, Unplanned was up for a couple of MovieGuide awards,” Ms Bratcher posted recently on Facebook.
“Hallmark has completely scrubbed us from the entire show. We were the only nominees who were not recognized. This is completely unacceptable,” she wrote.
Ashley Bratcher used her Facebook post to share the speech she gave at the awards ceremony.
“It’s all glory to God and if no one remembers our names when this is over, please remember this: God is so real. He loves you so much. He has a plan for your life. Life is precious. And to every woman facing a crisis situation please know that you can be successful and be a mother, and that children will enrich your life along the way,” she said.
The action by Hallmark has prompted criticism from FamilyVoice spokesman David d’Lima, who helped promote the film to Australian audiences.
“Pro-abortion elements in the media make much about freedom of expression and the right to choose, but only when it fits their politically-correct worldview,” he said.
“Thank God for the relative freedom provided by social media platforms to by-pass the mainstream media bias.”