Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy Chickens Out On Supporting Equal Rights

Andrew Cathy, CEO of U.S. fast food chain Chick-fil-A, has failed to endorse equal rights for LGBTQ+ people in a recent Today interview. 

When reminded of the company’s historic opposition to marriage equality —  opposition that included comments made in 2012 by his father, then-CEO Dan Cathy, that Chick-fil-A endorsed the “biblical definition” of family — Cathy quickly dodged the question.

“Well for anybody that hadn’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,” said Cathy.

However, Interviewer Craig Melvin was not satisfied that Chick-fil-A happily accepting LGBTQ+ dollars constituted support for the queer community, going on to press Cathy further.

“You don’t wanna talk about that chapter in Chick-fil-A’s history?” Melvin asked.

“We’re focussed on serving everybody that come in and eat with us,” Cathy replied.

Following this second prevarication, Melvin attempted the question again, this time in the most direct fashion possible.

“The company’s official position on equal rights is…?”

“We’re focussed on hospitality, serving great tasting food, and great service,” Cathy said.

Chick-fil-A CEO Garners Widespread Backlash

Short reels of the clip have since gone viral on social media, with countless Instagram commentators criticising Cathy’s noncommittal position, arguing that not saying anything about equal rights is saying something about equal rights.

“Boneless chicken and spineless leadership. Yum,” wrote competing Tex-Mex food chain Lucharitos.

Andy Cohen, host and executive producer of The Real Housewives franchise, also shared his disappointment.

“THIS AIN’T IT DUDE,” Cohen wrote, “you had a chance to win us all back and you blew it”.

Meanwhile, internationally acclaimed comedian Chelsea Handler simply responded “No thank you.”

Alongside Dan Cathy’s controversial 2012 comments, Chick-fil-A has also drawn criticism over the years for its donation to groups hostile to marriage equality and gay rights.

These included charitable contributions to Family Research Council, an evangelical pseudoscientific group that has falsely linked homosexuality to pedophilia; and Exodus International, an organisation that championed the deeply harmful practice of gay conversion therapy.