Woman accuses television network of using her viral TikTok to create a film without crediting her
Hallmark Channel accused of stealing a TikTok viral sensation for their new holiday film, leaving the original creator uncredited
The latest holiday movie from Hallmark Channel was accused by a woman of being "stolen" from a viral TikTok without any credit given for the idea. Known for its family-friendly TV series and movies, Hallmark Channel is an American cable television network.
The latest movie from the network is taking on the holiday season as it leads up to Christmas, Holiday Road is set to premiere on December 17. But one woman claims the network took the idea from her own life after a viral TikTok detailed the same premise, and Hallmark Channel never acknowledged her.
TikToker Alanah, also known as 'alanahstory21', sparked a fiasco when she shared a video on the platform about her and a group of 13 strangers having their flight canceled. Despite the setback, the group decided to embark on an unexpected road trip to reach their destination. Alanah's TikTok featuring the group members gained widespread attention, accumulating over 850,000 likes.
Netflix and Tyler Perry's producers allegedly expressed interest in creating a documentary to capitalize on the strange story. However, Hallmark swooped in and took over everything. According to Hallmark Channel's website, their new film Holiday Road follows nine strangers stranded at an airport during the holidays as they come together for a Christmas road trip to Denver.
Does this sound familiar? A member of the original group, Michelle, also known as 'thefarmbabe' on TikTok, accused the television network of ripping off their idea without giving credit or compensation. Michelle expressed feeling violated and exploited by the situation, stating that half of the original group had been blocked by Hallmark's Facebook account for speaking out.
We’ll be sure to keep you updated as the story progresses. In the meantime, be sure to check out all the latest entertainment news on our page here.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I am deeply disappointed and frustrated by Hallmark Channel's alleged actions. It is disheartening to see a large corporation profiting from someone else's creative idea without giving proper credit or compensation. The fact that the network allegedly blocked some of the original group members on social media for speaking out further adds insult to injury. This incident highlights the importance of protecting the rights and creativity of content creators, especially in the digital age where ideas can spread rapidly. I hope that Hallmark Channel will take responsibility for their actions and rectify the situation by acknowledging the original TikTok creators and providing them with the credit and compensation they deserve.
Furthermore, this incident raises concerns about the power dynamics between large corporations and individual content creators. It is crucial for platforms like TikTok to implement robust mechanisms to safeguard the intellectual property rights of their users and ensure that their content is not exploited without their consent. Additionally, consumers should be more vigilant and critical of the media they consume, paying attention to the sources and inspirations behind creative works. By supporting and amplifying the voices of original content creators, we can help foster a fairer and more ethical creative ecosystem.
