Celebs weigh in on Chick-fil-A flap
UPDATE: Chick-fil-A just announced the sudden death of its longtime spokesman this morning, reportedly from a heart attack. Here is a link to that story.
A number of celebrities have joined the myriad other commentators in discussing Chick-fil-A.
“Chick Fil A is delicious, give me a #1 with cheese cut in half,” tweeted Atlanta hip hop star Big Boi, who later tweeted, “Chick-fil-A is closed on Sunday in honor of the Sabbath, you know how many folk miss that chicken for 1 day.”
Roseanne Barr struck a differing tone, tweeting that anyone who dines at the restaurant chain “deserves to get the cancer that is sure to come from eating antibiotic filled tortured chickens 4Christ.” She later clarified her sentiments, saying she did not actually wish cancer on anyone. “I should have been more careful in choice of words,” she said in a follow-up tweet.
Also invoking medical conditions was celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who tweeted, “I heard #ChickFilA gives you diarrhea!”
Atlanta native Ed Helms, the actor of “The Office,” “The Hangover” and “Jeff, Who Lives at Home” note, tweeted: “Chick-Fil-A doesn’t like gay people? So lame. Hate to think what they do to the gay chickens! Lost a loyal fan.”
Celebrities Roseanne Barr, from top left, Perez Hilton, Dave Ramsey and Big Boi have weighed in on Chick-fil-A
And Mia Farrow tweeted a link to an essay on the Think Progress website that said in part, “”There is … no accurate way to reduce Chick-fil-A’s words and actions to merely defending ‘biblical principles.’ This is — in every way, shape, and form — a company proactively engaging against the interests of LGBT people, and that is the quite justified reason for outcry.”
Prominent supporters of the Atlanta-based chain include pro hockey player Tim Thomas. “I stand with Chick-fil-A,” he wrote on his Facebook page. Mike Hubbard, speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, had Chick-fil-A for breakfast today. “Treated my staff to breakfast from Chick-fil-A to support free speech, family values and delicious chicken biscuits,” he tweeted.
U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, on the other hand, tweeted, “For the record, I prefer Kentucky Fried Chicken.”
And San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee joined Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in urging the chain to stay away. “Closest Chick-fil-A to San Francisco is 40 miles away and I strongly recommend that they not try to come any closer,” Lee tweeted.
Financial guru Dave Ramsey, a bestselling author and talk-show host who sells out stadiums all across the country with his live events, tweeted his support: “I LOVE Chick-fil-A food and Dan Cathy is a personal friend. I will be buying a biscuit on Aug. 1 to tell them I love them. Join me.”
He was referring to a movement spearheaded by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is encouraging people to dine at Chick-fil-A on Aug. 1. Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum is actively supporting “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” as well. In a statement, the Rev. Billy Graham said he will participate as well.
“I … appreciate Gov. Mike Huckabee’s leadership and for encouraging Americans to support Chick-fil-A on Aug. 1,” he said. “As the son of a dairy farmer who milked many a cow, I plan to ‘Eat Mor Chikin’ and show my support by visiting Chick-fil-A next Wednesday.”
Atlanta author Jackson Pearce is urging a counter-movement on that date. “On … the day Mike Huckabee wants Chick-Fil-A supporters to patronize the restaurant, go to Chick-Fil-A. Ask for a large water and nothing else,” she said in a post on YouTube. “See if they adhere to Proverbs 25:21 (”If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.”) and give it to you. If they do, yay! You took a few cents from their hate fund! If they don’t, well…I guess they’re proving their principals aren’t so ‘biblical.’”
The debate stems from Cathy’s comments regarding marriage.
“We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit,” he said in an interview with the Biblical Reporter. Here is a link to his entire statement.
While a number of economics experts pondered whether the flap will harm Chick-fil-A’s bottom line, University of Georgia marketing professor Sundar Bharadwaj told the Associated Press that it likely will weather the criticism relatively unscathed.
With more than 5.2 million Facebook fans and more than 180,000 Facebook users discussing it at the moment (according to a metrics snapshot), Chick-fil-A is certainly awash in commentary. The women on “The View” discussed it with Elisabeth Hasselbeck saying, “As citizens, if you don’t like something… you don’t have to buy anything there” and Whoopi Goldberg saying, “You don’t like what they’re doing, don’t go. But do not step on their right to have an opinion. This is still America.”
- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com
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837 comments Add your comment
Paul
July 26th, 2012
7:17 pm
Saul…you have some serious anger issues. Instead of wasting your time posting your hatred on the internet, maybe you should be looking up the number of a psychiatrist ( while choking, whoops I mean chowing on a very tasty Chik Fil A sandwich)
KimZ'sPackage
July 26th, 2012
7:17 pm
It has been 191 days since Obama last met with his Jobs Council but it has been 18 days since he last played golf.
Keep up the good work Obama
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:18 pm
Get over it!! Be sure to keep eating Chick-fil-A to keep your local economy going …. Atlanta based company. And keep watching Ellen!!
Lulu
July 26th, 2012
7:19 pm
Why can’t we all get along and eat more chicken?!
creative
July 26th, 2012
7:20 pm
I keep changing my mind on the issue. I’ll read a pro Cathy statement and think one way and then I’ll read a anti Cathy comment and change my mind. you all are very skilled debaters. Now let’s talk about 3rd trimester abortions, welfare (corporate and personal) and then top it off with some good ol fashioned college football recrootin.
Kim Kay
July 26th, 2012
7:20 pm
Thats what I’m talking about “Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!”. I love Ellen!
Steve
July 26th, 2012
7:20 pm
The son is not the equal of the father, as is often the case. People have beliefs, companies don’t. Junior has now learned to keep his mouth shut when he is speaking on behalf of the company his father and mother built. Heading out for something other than CFA now.
Tbeezy
July 26th, 2012
7:20 pm
Saul good your a f$$king idiot.u really believe,this earth was not created by a god.Even if u do not believe in Christ,u really have to be an idiot not to believe in a higher power.
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:21 pm
Well put “creative.” There are bigger chicken to fry than jumping on an Atlanta company owner.
Steve
July 26th, 2012
7:21 pm
Tbeezy — You have to be an idiot not to believe in a higher power? So, Stephen Hawking is an idiot? Come on, even you can’t believe that.
Saul Good
July 26th, 2012
7:22 pm
Keep following what it says in your human penned and authored bibles… even though it was 100% made up fiction…you can’t even follow ALL the rules the authors wrote (as there are MANY human created and penned bibles)…all of them fictional… so you believe you get to dictate those that don’t follow your fable/story and decide what they can and can not do with their lives?
Our nation was NOT founded upon kkkristian laws…still to this day only TWO of your 10 commandments are laws. Don’t kill and don’t steal… tell me if it’s against the law to work on the sabbath? Or not honor your redneck mother and father (who in GA were likely unwed and teenagers when they had you)…
gays getting married goes against your fictional doctrine? Then don’t marry a homosexual…yet why on earth would it bother you if two gays did in fact marry? I’m straight…married 20 years…and allowing two people of the same sex to marry won’t affect my life in one tiny way…so why would it affect your…HOW would it affect yours?
So go back to your chickkken sandwiches and your talibangelical churches with your pastors preaching hate while they diddle your children on camping trips… yeah…nice cult you belong to…
creative
July 26th, 2012
7:22 pm
or we could get Larry the Cable Guy and Margaret Cho to have a live debate on the issue. I wouldn’t stop laughing and the clever banter betwix those two. Now let’s get back to the real issues. Apartment fires in black neighborhoods, synthetic marijuana, and mising white girls between the ages of 4 and 10
jl
July 26th, 2012
7:23 pm
I think I will go over to my local Chik restaurant and have me a Peachy Milkshake.
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:24 pm
LMAO at Saul NOgood!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:24 pm
I’ll meet you over there jl.
Celebs weigh in on Chick-fil-A flap #Chick Fil A |
July 26th, 2012
7:25 pm
[...] Check out the original source here. [...]
onechris
July 26th, 2012
7:26 pm
I will not eat here ever again! I do not support any type of hate.
Saul good is a puke
July 26th, 2012
7:27 pm
SAUL GOOD IS A PUKE. Always has been, always will be.
jeanette
July 26th, 2012
7:28 pm
Do you need a piece of paper to get married. NO be married in your hearts
Saul good is a puke
July 26th, 2012
7:29 pm
Saul Good, keep your welfare hand out. The hand that feeds you will be the same one that chokes you out.
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:31 pm
@onechris ….. You also don’t seem to support people having the right to an opinion. And trust me, you’ll break down for those tasty waffle fries one day. No doubt. hahaha
Darren
July 26th, 2012
7:32 pm
I can’t believe the hatred being spewed from you so called “Christians”. Jesus never said anything about this issue and the majority of what WAS said about it was part of orthodox Jewish law straight out of the Old Testament – which I would wager not a one of you follows. Do you keep kosher? Do grow out your hair or beard? Refrain from eating shellfish or pork? Have sex through a sheet? Do you marry your brother’s wife when he dies? Does your wife not show her hair because it’s immodest? Beat your children to death for being insubordinate? Every one of those things has just as much Biblical support as the one Bible verse you are quoting to support your hatred, which makes you every bit as guilty as the people you are discriminating against in the eyes of God. You contradict yourself and most of you have probably never even read the Bible all the way through or have the slightest bit of understanding of even WHERE the Bible came from. I would suggest reading it maybe instead of just listening to your pastor.
“Biblical view of marriage is one man and one woman?” I guess you’ve never read the parts about how many of the Old Testament Prophets and Patriarchs had multiple wives, including Lamech, Abraham, Jacob, Esau, Gideon, Saul, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Elkanah, Ashur, Abijah and Jehoiada. Some interpretations also suggest Moses had a second wife in Tharbis. Other polygamists identified in the Bible include Abijah of Judah, Ashur, Ahab, Ahasuerus, Ashur, Belshazzar, Benhadad, Caleb, Eliphaz, Esau, Ezra, Gideon, Jehoiachin, Jehoram, Jerahmeel, Joash, Machir, Manasseh, Mered, Nahor, Rehoboam, Shaharaim, Simeon, and Zedekiah.
Apart from all that, these people are your children, your brothers, your sisters, friends and family. You’re turning your back on them and saying “you don’t have the same rights as us.” Very Christian of you.
Joy
July 26th, 2012
7:33 pm
Again…..it seems that “Christians” want to make social and moral standards for EVERYONE. Its almost comical that in the Pulpit and in some churchs…especially in the south, it is preached that Love and marriage are only for the straight couples as tho everyone else is excluded. …sounds like the GOP… When are we going to get past this as a society?….ya know as in acceptance and tolerance for ALL!
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:35 pm
Darren, everyone is entitled to choose whatever religion, whatever belief, and whomever they want as a partner for life. Now go cool off with a good ol’ glass of Chick-fil-A sweet tea.
Zach
July 26th, 2012
7:36 pm
It’s more than just an opinion when Chick-fil-a is actively funding anti-LGBT organizations by the millions each and every year. They are promoting hate and I’ll have nothing to do with them.
Sluggo
July 26th, 2012
7:36 pm
I never visited Colonel Sanders for his lessons in morality and do not attend church for a chicken fried sandwich. He’s entitled to speak his mind, it’s America. I don’t agree with the position and will no longer patronize their stores.
Anti Saul Good
July 26th, 2012
7:36 pm
Saul Good – You sound quite judgemental. Would you like anyone passing judgement on your personal beliefs or can only you push your views on others.
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:38 pm
Oh, we’ll never get past it….God didn’t make us to think alike, to like the same things, to like the same people….He made each of us to have the right to our own opinion. This world would be boring if we all thought like you or me or the next blogger. Keep an open mind to everyone’s right to their preferred sexual orientation AND religion.
Atlantarama
July 26th, 2012
7:40 pm
I’m gay, but I’m not going to stop eating at Chick-Fil-A just because its owner has different beliefs than me.
I also think it’s sad that so many anti-CFA comments are either distortions of their business practices, or outright lies concerning the quality of the food.
KimZ'sPackage
July 26th, 2012
7:40 pm
onechris
July 26th, 2012
7:26 pm
I will not eat here ever again! I do not support any type of hate.
=============================
What HATE has Chick-fil-A or the president said or done that is Hateful?
Gays wanting to force or be allowed to marry in a Church is wrong.
Civil Unions done at the court house is fine.
Asking that Churches Recognize and Accept Gay marriage is wrong.
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:41 pm
Wow, well said Atlantarama!!
Vegan
July 26th, 2012
7:42 pm
Chic-Fil-A along with all the bigots and homophobes who love that crap can kiss my rump roast.
Saul good is a puke
July 26th, 2012
7:45 pm
Saul Good and the rest of you haters are trying to choke the life out of Chic-fil-a. You bunch of chicken chokers.
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:47 pm
Hilarious Vegan!! Let’s not even get started on how annoying it is that a lot of Vegans and Vegetarians always feel the need to tell you that’s what they are. You’re entitled to your opinion but good grief, must we always have to label ourselves by what food we eat….MEATetarians, Vegans, Vegetarians….Barforama chick-a-dee vegan.
TWayne
July 26th, 2012
7:47 pm
Saul…quit drinking the Hater-Aid! Meet me at Chick-fil-a on August 1st and I’ll buy you lunch…
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:48 pm
Nice TWayne, and I’ll pick-up ol’ Saul NOgood’s dessert on August 1st!!
HENRY
July 26th, 2012
7:49 pm
I EAT AT CFA EVERYDAY………IT’S GREAT…..AND THE CELEBS THAT MAKE SUCH VILE STATEMENTS CAN KISS MY ASS.
Sid
July 26th, 2012
7:51 pm
while I totally disagree with them on this (& many) issues I do respect their willingness to accept the consequences of sticking to their principles (however misguided) w/o crying “persecution!” or “free speech!” (not to mention staying closed on Sunday has got to have cost them well over a BILLION $ over the years – now THAT’S walking the talk!). where I have a BIG problem is when I hear elected officials saying they’re going to block them entering their markets! want to organize boycotts? fine… want to picket them? fine… but IMO it’s an abuse of office to not let them open b/c you don’t agree with the owners personal politics (even if I do agree said owner is wrong). if you can demonstrate they discriminate against gay customers or applicants THEN you’d have a somewhat legitimate case but even then you’d need to show it was coming down from corporate (vs a local operator). the sad part is the little chicken sandwich that could with the (rightfully) vilified CEO still has a vastly superior product to its peers (across fast food) & BY FAR the best service & cleanest restaurants in the industry – say what you will about Cathy but you can’t deny that…
Deke
July 26th, 2012
7:52 pm
“God” spoke to me, and told me that all Christians are idiots.
Prove me wrong.
Saul good is a puke
July 26th, 2012
7:55 pm
So, geke, or Deke, did he say to not eat chicken?
Chick-fil-A & having the right to an opinion ROCKS!!
July 26th, 2012
7:56 pm
You might be right since yo’ mama named you “Deke” ya d!@k!
Dirty Dawg
July 26th, 2012
8:00 pm
If Cathy had stopped with his original comment I personally wouldn’t have a problem…I wouldn’t agree with him but accept it as his beliefs. But when he added that those of us that don’t share those beliefs are asking for God’s wrath for going against his teachings. Kinda like Falwell or one of those other religious nut jobs that claimed 9/11 and Katrina was God’s punishment for condoning Gays in our midsts plus the news that the Chick-Fil-A corporation gives millions to organizations that work against, and promote hatred of, gays and lesbians. Further, word is that the corporation does not allow homosexuals to work there. You slip through the net and manage to get hired, then you worry about them finding out later and they run you off.
I’ve got to ask…since the primary Biblical reference, if not the only one, that drives religious hatred of gays and a gay lifestyle, is from the Book of Leviticus. The same book that condemns all sorts of practices and behaviors – probably including slaughtering and eating foul – that even religious fundamentalists don’t bother with. So why are they so adamant about homosexuals and same-sex marriage? Selective bigotry?
Saul good is a puke
July 26th, 2012
8:01 pm
Saul Good says it tastes like chicken
Woofie
July 26th, 2012
8:01 pm
Bible and Marriage? Really? Adam and Eve. Who married them, if they were the “first” two humans on earth? Didn’t they have two sons? Where did everyone else come from? Did Eve have sex with her own children to produce more offspring? Just another bible “mystery” that makes no sense. Too much of the bible makes no sense. All of the traditional marriage folks are also pro-life, yet pro-death penalty. You can’t have it both ways. As usual, they talk out both sides of their mouth and represent the height of hypocrisy. Beware everyone!
Debbie
July 26th, 2012
8:01 pm
The Cathy family are good and decent people who have given much to our community. I support their American right to speak up for what they believe and run their company as they see fit based on these beliefs. I also support mine and others right to disagree with these beliefs and to not buy their product. Although it will be difficult since I am addicted to the ice dream cone.
Truthpaste
July 26th, 2012
8:03 pm
Meh. He’s entitled to his opinion. I use to like their lemonade, but I think they stopped using real fruit awhile back.
Saul good is a puke
July 26th, 2012
8:07 pm
Saul Good got some brown eye with his
This is Mrs. Norman Maine
July 26th, 2012
8:07 pm
Dan Cathy is entitled to his opinion but by stating that Chick Fil-A the company does not support gay marriage, he is saying something different. People should be able to eat in peace without the religiously insane beating them over the head with their view.I hope they don’t have any gay employees because that sounds like a hostile work environment to me. Lawsuits on the way.
They have definitely lost my biz. Chick Fil-A is overrated anyway.
melvinowens
July 26th, 2012
8:11 pm
marraige is between a man and a woman. what is the big deal about that?
Saul Good
July 26th, 2012
8:11 pm
Right now I’m using some chicKKKen sandwiches I bought from chick-kk-k to oil up some of the bibles in this hotel…works great for burning the pages after i rip them out!