Candace Cameron Bure denies attending Kirk Cameron's caroling protests, but stands by her brother

Candace Cameron Bure broke her social media hiatus to address brother Kirk Cameron’s controversial Christmas caroling events. Meanwhile, he continues to defend the mask-less protests.

The Fuller House star squashed any speculation she has been among the hundreds of people attending Cameron’s mass gatherings in greater Los Angeles, where COVID-19 cases surge and ICU capacity plummets. But she won’t stand for “vile tweets” about her brother.

“I did not attend any recent caroling events. Also, I choose to follow the greater guidelines by wearing a mask and social distance when I’m in public,” the Hallmark Channel darling wrote. “However, I don’t appreciate the vile tweets about my family. I believe respectful dialogue is the key to being heard.”

Cameron, 50, has partnered with Sing It Louder USA to lead peaceful protests against California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home directive. The caroling events, which have been posted to the Growing Pains star’s social media accounts, show hundreds of people singing Christmas carols with practically no masks or social distancing in sight.

Cameron has hosted three this month in Thousand Oaks, Calif, about 40 miles from L.A., as COVID-19 cases skyrocket in the area. The former child star turned evangelist has been called “unchristian” and “irresponsible” — among other things — for promoting mass gatherings amid the pandemic.

During Wednesday’s interview with Newsmax TV, Cameron himself from criticism while slamming the “mask gestapo.”

“You know, we’ve all heard of The Masked Singer and it’s quite the rage, but ever since we started these Christmas caroling peaceful protests, I’ve been affectionately dubbed ‘the unmasked singer’ and triggered a whole different kind of rage,” Cameron quipped. He said he’s trying to offer hope with his events to people struggling with mental health issues amid isolation.

Cameron was asked to respond to critics who wonder why “you can’t practice safety and spread joy.”

“I’m not the mask police,” he said. “This is America. We shouldn’t be having a mask Gestapo and a distance monitoring going on when people are grown adults, they’re not babies. They can make choices for their own health... You are in charge of your health care, not the government.”

For his part, Cameron has been choosing to travel and gather where he pleases. In between protests, he and his 17-year-old son attended an “unforgettable” event at Mar-a-Lago with the conservative student group Turning Point USA.

For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDC’s and WHO’s resource guides.

• What to do if you think you have the coronavirus

• What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

• Glossary of public health terms to stay informed

• The most common ways the coronavirus is transmitted

• How to maintain your physical and mental health during the pandemic

• Taking care of a loved one with COVID-19? Here’s how to stay healthy

• COVID-19 and pregnancy: What we know so far

• How to find a job, unemployment insurance

• Q&A with Dr. Kavita Patel: How to keep your family safe and maintain your mental health

• Opening and cleaning delivery packages

• Tips for grocery shopping

• How to deal with potentially contaminated money

• How to do your laundry safely

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

• Gal Gadot responds to 'whitewashing' backlash over 'Cleopatra' casting, is 'very passionate' about the film

• Hilaria Baldwin stands up to body shamers after Amy Schumer uses her photo as a joke

• Jessica Simpson and Mariah Carey among stars to spill secrets in 2020 celebrity memoirs