Members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community have boycotted the fast-food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A for years, since CEO Dan Cathy said in 2012 that Chick-fil-A was supportive of "the biblical definition" of family and was family-friendly to families who fit that definition.
Realizing the chain would rally against LGBTQ+ rights, many immediately stopped patronizing the restaurant.
This week, Craig Melvin from Today sat down with the Dan Cathy's son and current Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy, and he was curious to see if the company still carries the same definition of "family."
Melvin asked:
"People were protesting; they were boycotting Chick-fil-A."
"Chick-fil-A, they don't stand with the LGBTQ+ community."
"What would you say to those folks?"
Instead of answering the question, Cathy said:
"Well, for anybody that hasn't tried us, we'd love for you to come try and have our great-tasting food and the hospitality that we're known for."
"I think that everybody that will be willing to walk in the door, they'll see that they're welcome to come eat with us."
"We'd love to give them a great-tasting sandwich and give them great hospitality."
Melvin smiled throughout and clocked Cathy's deflection.
"You don't want to talk about that chapter in Chick-fil-A's history."
Cathy dodged the question again:
"We're focused on serving everybody that come in and eat with us."
Melvin tried to ask the question again:
"The company's official position on equal rights is..."
Cathy did not take the fill-in-the-blank option, either.
"We're focused on hospitality, serving great-tasting food and great service."
You can watch the segment here:
Viewers were quick to clock Cathy's deflection, as well.
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You can watch the full interview with CEO Andrew Cathy here:
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
There's a saying among businesses and entrepreneurs that when you try to make your business for everyone, it will be for no one, because it isn't tailored properly to anyone's interests or needs.
By saying that their doors are open to anyone, Cathy effectively said that they're willing to accept your money, but that doesn't mean they're interested in supporting your rights.
