Henson Company breaks off relationship with Chick-Fil-A over gay marriage stance
The Jim Henson Company has announced via it’s Facebook page that it no longer wishes to partner with Chick-Fil-A because Henson’s company supports gay marriage.
“… on Friday, the Jim Henson Company posted the following statement to their Facebook page:”
“The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors. Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD. (http://www.glaad.org/)”
“With this, The Jim Henson Company joins the ranks of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who has vowed to block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in the city, office star Ed Helms who tweeted that the chain had “lost a loyal fan,” and the countless individuals who have taken to social media to voice disapproval, including those planning a National Same Sex Kiss Day on August 3, in condemning the Chick-Fil-A’s CEO’s opposition to same sex marriage. “
A fan site reports that Chick-Fil-A kids meals were featuring a Jim Henson Creature Shop make-your-own puppet toy from mid July to Aug. 18th.
How do you feel about Chick-Fil-A’s stance on gay marriage? Does it influence your decision to buy your food there either way? If you are offended, it is hard to give it up? (That is some yummy chicken.) Do you think the owners should stop talking about their views?
(I know this is a polarizing issue but please try to stay polite and discuss it like adults. No name calling please.)
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1,331 comments Add your comment
maria
July 24th, 2012
3:47 pm
Again, CFA did NOT bring up the subject of same-sex marriage – The MEDIA asked the question, they gave THEIR opinion. Why is it such a problem to give an honest opinion? An honest opinion-what a concept.
Gimli
July 24th, 2012
3:48 pm
The Dwarf Door offends me and my people.
seabass
July 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
I support chick fila and their believes. I will eat there tonight. As all of Hollywood has supported Obama, so shall Henson Company.
Chode McBlob
July 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
I didn’t know they ever had a partnership.
journalism?
July 24th, 2012
3:50 pm
The muppets are no longer owned by The Jim Henson Company, they sold them to Disney in 2004. The Jim Henson Company seems to have removed their statement from their Facebook page, although comments are still there. Interesting that they would sever ties with a private company who discloses where their non-profit money goes when the organization they say they will send their earnings to, GLAAD (a non-profit) does not. No 2011 form 990 made public by GLAAD, their prior years 990 forms indicate a 50% drop in revenues from 2008 to 2010. Political grandstanding in an election year to boost their revenues. If the reason The Jim Henson Company is donating their money to GLAAD is to promote same sex marriage legislation and GLAAD does accept the earnings from The Jim Henson Company they would be jeopardizing their 501c3 status, although the public would never know since they are not required to disclose what they are spending their money on. Time for serious changes to the public disclosure laws for 501c3 org’s!
creative
July 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
Chicken…because libertarians have no clout, should I change my opinion. Also, nice David Cross rant on the Bible. I hate myself more than I hate anyone else. Does that count for anything.
RCFarris
July 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
I think the Henson company is pulling this stunt to market themselves and make money. It’s a sinking ship whose days are numbered. Nothing like a little controversy for publicity and funds. That’s what the CEO’s are thinking at the end of the day at most company’s and your media peeps. It comes down to $$$$$. Henson company wasn’t boycotting chic-fil-a because of this “newly discovered belief”.(they already knew the Christian values of the company before they began a partnership. How could they not?) They were hard up for profits and saw this as an opportunity to cash in. What’s funny, is they are going to lose a lot of families. Chic fil a will not lose a dime. If every business owner who stood for the biblical definition of family wasn’t allowed to open their businesses in a city, say hello to communism. Proud of the Cathy family. Keep making those sandwiches and running one of the friendliest and best fast-food businesses in the world!
Jennifer
July 24th, 2012
3:55 pm
Yep, it does influence whether or not I will spend my money there. I choose to not spend it there anymore.
Steph
July 24th, 2012
3:56 pm
I feel that everyone should be entitled to the same rights….PERIOD No matter what life you lead or what god you believe in if one at all everyone should be equal. Just so all you gay haters know I am a blood and organ donor so when you are in an emergency and need blood or an organ remember some gay that you think should just die and have no rights just saved your life. PEACE LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO ALL!
Saul Good
July 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
RC…go to any toy isle in any store…look at all the products for sale that are Hensen creations or have their trademark,,, same goes for sheets, towels, books, interactive video teaching games, and their movies for sale…no they are FAR from hurting…
beenaroundyaknow
July 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
I have never been to a Chick-fil-a but I am going there tomorrow to support a business that stands by it’s principles. Most of the people protesting Chick-fil-a don’t even know the real story, They are following brain dead liberal blog sites voicing their hate speech. They are a private company and they can do what ever they want with their money.
Chickelope
July 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
Whew. I just got back from an all-nighter. We tore all the pages out of our bibles and threw them on the bed and made gay love all over the bed. Exhausted and vanquished we went to chick-fill-a and got chicken and brought it back and started all over. This time with pictures of the Cathy family that we got from the restaurant. I’m pooped. So, what’s going on here, anyway?
JB
July 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
Good Jennifer. One less car in the drive thru. Next.
Gene
July 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
Sincerity is great, but it’s quite possible to be sincerely wrong. Lots of groups throughout history have stood up for their beliefs…those in favor of the institution of slavery, those in favor of Jim Crow laws, those against women’s right to vote…all used their religious beliefs to stand up for something that they strongly believed in. Hopefully, Chick-Fil-A will be shown to be as sincerely wrong as these and many other groups in the past who wanted to deny basic rights to others.
Manly Gilmer
July 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
I like the Muppets but I love Chick-Fil-A . I say to Chick-Fil-A ” Let Jim Henson Company go their merry way. I ddo not buy Chicken sandwiches because of some crazy muppets , I buy ‘em because it is a great product at a reasonable price…and I believe Chick-Fil-A was here long before the Muppets were even thought of …. So make mine with the curly fries and lets stay happy !!!!
cindy
July 24th, 2012
4:01 pm
Fast food restaurants need to stick to commenting on what they do, not what they believe. The CEO did his company a HUGE disservice by stating his views (and it doesn’t matter that his comments were made to a Baptist media entity). They sell chicken sandwiches, not bibles. If the CEO or even every single employee supports ONLY traditional marriage, that’s fine… we live in a country where you can believe whatever you want. However, don’t mix your personal beliefs with your business … it’s just stupid business. Keep your mouth shut with the media unless you’re talking about chicken. Business and Social issues don’t mix… However, now that I’ve seen signs (posted on FB, so I will verify for myself), where the restaurants have a signs up regarding the Jim Henson company toys … it states that due to a possible “safety” reason, they have recalled them. This, my friends, is a flat out lie and a legal loophole to cover the fact that JH company has pulled out – I may just stop buying my favorite sandwiches. Doesn’t sound very Christian to me. If you are spouting that you only support the traditional biblical definition of marriage, I would hope you would also support the 10 commandments … you know, the one about bearing false witnesses.
JB
July 24th, 2012
4:01 pm
Darn, you’re out of Muppets. Wonder what that Mayor in Boston would do if 50,000,000 Christians wrote the paper up there and said Boston was off their bucket list. Wonder how the ( didn’t do it on their on) business owners would feel about it.
Patty
July 24th, 2012
4:01 pm
More CFA for my family! If you don’t stand for what you believe…you don’t stand for anything! Go Truett Cathy!!
Saul Good
July 24th, 2012
4:01 pm
Chickelope…tha’s effin’ GREAT! I didn’t know there were others out that who also rip out the pages of the bibles in hotel rooms and have great gay sex while looking at pics of the Cathy family… glad to meet ya!
JB
July 24th, 2012
4:02 pm
And speaking of that. China has half the roads and bridges we have and their GDP is 3 times ours. Now pray tell Obama, how they doing that????
Deb
July 24th, 2012
4:03 pm
Activities that fall under the category of expressing your opinion:
Stating your popular opinion publicly
Stating your unpopular opinion publicly
Boycotting a restaurant
Choosing not to boycott a restaurant
Activities that fall under the category of getting in other’s people business:
Legislating how other people should live their lives
JB
July 24th, 2012
4:04 pm
I guess every gay in the country getting a muppet doll for Christmas…………..Whoops, they don’t believe in Christmas………….Well, some occasion.
creative
July 24th, 2012
4:04 pm
I actually love the Muppets and Chik Fil A and will continue to support both with every extra dollar I have until I am broke. Actually I am going to watch The Muppets on Blu ray while I eat a # 1 with Chik Fil A sauce. By me doing this nothing in the world will change. As Murphy’s Law once said…America Rules!!!
Sharon
July 24th, 2012
4:04 pm
It’s funny how the most negative, hateful comments are those in support of Jim Henson Company’s statements. Chick fil A has not changed a bit since 2 weeks ago before the comment was made public. I wonder how many other company CEO’s have the same opinion but are held in silence because of situations like this? God forbid someone have an opinion or religious belief in this country. Wait, isn’t that what we were founded on???? People, whether you are for this or against it, it is your own opinion and you have the right to it. Mr. Cathy is not emitting any hatred towards anyone, and he never has. The name calling and threatened boycott of his company will not help or hurt matters in any way. The only thing this will do is cause some people to be hateful toward’s Chick fil A, and probably have some vandalism thrown in, since this happens often with boycotts. I don’t have any right to judge anyone for his or her beliefs if they are different than mine. I was brought up different than my neighbor, and recognize this without hate and name calling.
JB
July 24th, 2012
4:05 pm
sic Saul
Darren Mitton
July 24th, 2012
4:05 pm
Give an article a comment-box, and the right-wingers that aren’t opposed to literacy by principle will flock to it.
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