Far-left NBC tried to revive a decades-old controversy manufactured by the same media pool over the Christian-rooted national fast food chain Chick-Fil-A’s public stance on traditional marriage. The latest attack came during an October 14th segment featuring CEO Andrew Cathy being aggressively questioned by NBC News’ Craig Melvin, who was working on a new segment titled ‘Business in America.’
For context, the previous CEO, Andrew’s father Dan, made remarks in 2012 as the political climate under the Barack Obama administration changed with a heavy push on social issues. Gay marriage was being passed at the state level across the nation, at odds with traditional Christian beliefs. The senior Cathy did not hide his personal views, nor of the privately-held company which had always closed on Sundays.
“It’s a company that was sort of built built on God, if you will, and that still also seems to be very much a part of the DNA of Chick-Fil-A,” Melvin began in the segment. In response, the younger Cathy boldly responded. “It is our anchor in the sense of what our corporate purpose states that we’re in business to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that’s entrusted to us, to have a positive influence in all kinds of contact with Chick-Fil-A.”
Melvin then began a long question. “That corporate purpose came under fire in 2012, when Andrew’s father Dan publicly stated the company was opposed to gay marriage, public documents revealed Chick-fil-A had donated millions to conservative Christian organizations opposed to LGBTQ rights. The comments and financial disclosures unleashed a culture war with protests, boycotts, and political pushback on both sides. Dan Cathy never changed his stance on gay marriage, but he did express regret for involving the company in the debate. There were folks who were protesting, they were boycotting Chick-Fil-A. They’d sell at Chick-Fil-A. They don’t, they don’t stand with the LGBTQ plus community. What would you say to those folks?”
“Well, for anybody that hadn’t tried us, we’d love for you to come try and have our great taste in 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 taste in sandwich and give them great hospitality.”
“You don’t want to talk about that chapter in Chick-Fil-A’s history,” Melvin tried again, only to be shot down once more. “We’re focused on serving everybody that come in and eat with us. The company’s official position on equal rights is: we’re focused on hospitality, serving great taste in food and great service,” Cathy finished in the clip. Watch that exchange below:
As The American Tribune wrote on additional Christian-focused work, “Chick-fil-A changed its charitable-giving strategy in 2019 after years of political pressure over donations to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salvation Army. The company redirected its giving toward organizations addressing education, hunger and homelessness.”
“Its Christian foundation nevertheless remains publicly visible through its corporate purpose and longstanding policy of closing every restaurant on Sundays. Cathy said the weekly closure provides employees with a dependable day for church, rest, family or whatever they choose to pursue outside work.”
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded video