Red Flags In Candace Cameron Bure's Marriage From Our Matchmaker

Back in the '90s, Candace Cameron Bure captured plenty of hearts in her role as D.J. Tanner on "Full House." But the former child star — and, more recently, the fully grown leading lady of the sequel sitcom "Fuller House" — only has eyes for one man: her husband, Russian-American hockey player and Olympic medalist Valeri Bure. Candace and Valeri have been married since 1996, which might make you assume that they have it all figured out. However, some unusual aspects of their union have caused onlookers to wonder whether things are really okay in the Bure household.

To find out more, Glam spoke exclusively to matchmaker Susan Trombetti, CEO of Exclusive Matchmaking. "I see red flags all over Candace Cameron Bure's relationship. I am sure it works for them, but I ask for how long? Is it possible she wakes up one day and realizes it was all a mistake? Why is she so defensive on social media?" asks Trombetti. "Perhaps she is overplaying it all because she has made a living off of a projected wholesome image on television. ... I feel it's all a bit forced, and that's a red flag right there."

Yikes, that's a pretty bad start. And this isn't the only sketchy sign that caught Trombetti's attention. From weirdly handsy displays of affection to some old-fashioned ideas about gender roles, it seems like the Bures have a lot of potential red flags to hurdle.

Different couples have different ideas about PDA, including how much they're comfortable with. If Valeri and Cameron Candace Bure want to be a little flirty in public, that's their business. But when asked about red flags, Susan Trombetti immediately points to a notorious Instagram post from September 2020 that shows Valeri's hand positioned blatantly on Candace's chest. "This is too much on a few levels," Trombetti exclusively tells Glam, and she isn't the only one who had a negative reaction. "Inappropriate for a Christian woman!" one user commented on the post.

It isn't unusual for the Hallmark Channel regular to accidentally rile up her religious fanbase, and these folks often have a lot to say about Candace Cameron Bure's most inappropriate outfits. Rather than apologize for the ever-so-slightly spicy post, though, Candace defended it. "I've been married for 24 years. ... And the fact that we have fun and we flirt together, this is part of what makes our marriage work," she said on the "Confessions of a Crappy Christian" podcast that November. Clarifying how sex positivity dovetails with her Christian faith, Candace added, "Sex doesn't stop once you get married. ... If we are to promise ourselves for one another and preach saving yourself for marriage, then sex needs to be celebrated within marriage."

However, Trombetti is less concerned about the inner workings of the Bures' sex life and more concerned about the optics. "I think they should flirt all they want, but the fact that she put it [online] bothers me. It shows he feels ownership over her, and she isn't even aware." When it comes to healthy interactions, possessiveness doesn't equate to caring — and can be a major relationship issue. For now, it seems like Candace doesn't see any problems flaunting this dynamic, but Trombetti remains skeptical, saying, "I guess ignorance is bliss."

Pretty much every celebrity duo has to contend with negativity online, especially if they maintain any kind of social media presence, and Valeri and Candace Cameron Bure are no exceptions. But according to Susan Trombetti, the back-and-forth controversy around Valeri's groping highlights another red flag in the couple's relationship: Candace's "defensive nature when it comes to social media."

Candace has not only talked about the controversy with several news outlets — she's also clapped back at her haters directly through since-expired Instagram stories. "I'm sorry if it offended you — I'm actually not sorry," she said in one such video. "He can touch me any time he wants, and I hope he does." It's perfectly normal for Candace to feel that way about her husband, but Trombetti questions, "Why does she feel so defensive? If she truly subscribes to thinking like this, why does she have to defend it to strangers?"

As Trombetti exclusively tells Glam, "Anytime you put yourself and your personal life out there, you open yourself up to people's opinions. When you are a public personality, it comes with the territory." Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor, including when interacting with critics on social media. But as Trombetti points out, Candace's need to address online trolls suggests that the star has trouble ignoring probes into her love life, which may indicate deeper issues or insecurities.

Spirituality is deeply personal, and religious beliefs can shape our lives and relationships in fundamental ways. For instance, Christianity seems to play a major role in Valeri and Candace Cameron Bure's relationship — such as Candace's divisive decision to defer to her husband. "I am not a passive person, but I chose to fall into a more submissive role in our relationship because I wanted to do everything in my power to make my marriage and family work. ... I submit to his leadership," the actor wrote in her 2014 memoir, "Balancing It All: My Story of Juggling Priorities and Purpose."

Unsurprisingly, this point of view doesn't resonate with everyone. Susan Trombetti, for one, has reservations about the narrative that Candace's religious faith demands subservience in marriage. "If it works for them, it works for them. ... However, I know plenty of Christians that are equals in their marriage," Trombetti exclusively tells Glam.

Each relationship is unique, and the Bures can relate to each other however they please so long as everything is consensual — and authentic to their private wishes. But Trombetti suggests that the outspoken publicity around their dynamic is, once again, troubling. "There are plenty of people where one person is more submissive in the relationship," says Trombetti, "But please stop shoving it down our throats." Ultimately, only Valeri and Candace know if embracing an intentional power imbalance is safe and healthy in their household, but making it performative or pinning it all on religion rather than personal choice could be a red flag.

There are so many red flags in Valeri and Candace Cameron Bure's partnership that age might seem like an afterthought. However, Susan Trombetti thinks that becoming a wife while naive and impressionable could have set Candace up for a fall. "She married way too young," Trombetti says. "As a matchmaker, I say people should experience their 20s, but they met at 18 and married at 20."

The speed of their relationship was also on the fast track — even before hitting their first dating anniversary, Valeri and Candace were already engaged. That's not a long time to get to know someone and let a relationship mature, testing its strength through ups and downs. That's barely even enough time to look for signs that you're ready to get married. Granted, the couple has lasted for many years, but Trombetti wonders if this young marriage has warped Candace's understanding of both romance and society at large.

"I would say possibly she isn't worldly enough ... and somewhat sheltered, which is why she thinks some of her beliefs are mainstream," Trombetti exclusively tells Glam, suggesting that Candace's inexperience may feed her willingness to share all those sometimes inflammatory details about her marriage. "I like her positivity and that she is scandal-free," Trombetti adds, "But she is still so young, even now."