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
Saul Good
July 26th, 2012
9:03 pm
(biles=bibles)…same thing
Reverse Discrimination
July 26th, 2012
9:04 pm
So now the Gay folks are going to discriminate and demonstrate against someone who’s views they don’t like. Sounds like reverse discrimination to me.
Liberal Hippocrites
July 26th, 2012
9:06 pm
Oh look, the libs savior must be a CFA fan, where’s the outrage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6K9dS9wl7U&feature=relmfu
Special K
July 26th, 2012
9:06 pm
Group hug folks!
FirstAmendmentRights
July 26th, 2012
9:06 pm
It’s okay for gay and lesbian supporters to voice their opinion but it’s not okay for supporters of traditional families to voice theirs? Give me a break!!! I will be purchasing something on Wednesday just to show my support and to protect our rights!! I KNOW they will come out on top!!
Special K
July 26th, 2012
9:07 pm
How many days til Ag 1st?
Special K
July 26th, 2012
9:08 pm
Aug sorry.
Delusional
July 26th, 2012
9:08 pm
Yea Saul. Go start a fire on private property and see how far that gets you. Oh and you might actually want to read the bible before making such misguided statements.
brk
July 26th, 2012
9:09 pm
I will not go to chickfilt as my grandson said because they are so over priced good but over priced . as for as the gay thing we hate too much in this country right now need to be concerned if your neighbor or someone needs to eat or some elderly needs a visit. give back to your community and stop this hating and pointing fingers.
Jake
July 26th, 2012
9:10 pm
I support Chick-Fil-A and I am sick of hearing about Gay Marriage rights. I am against same-sex marriage, but if you are gay then that’s your business but I don’t think you should marry. Next people will want to marry their pets. There’s way too much drama behind this. Mr Cathy expressed his thoughts and just because he’s going against ‘the grain’ everyone wants to through stones. You have no right to do that. Chick-Fil-A is about the best fast food around and I will continue to support them. This is unfair drama. And proof of how easy it is to train humans.
GA Peach
July 26th, 2012
9:11 pm
Opinions are like asses everyone has one. People have a right to believe in whatever it is they want to believe in just because it may not be the same as your belief doesn’t make it wrong. Suck the bullsh** up and get over the statement. It’s a million and 1 other things we could all be focusing our attention on thats taking place in the world… CHICK-FIL-A IS THE BOMB….. Matter of fact I’ll be there to show my support tomorrow…@ Saul Good you don’t even eat Chick-fil-a so why do you have something to say KICK ROCKS dude go find you some veggies dumb a**.
Bud Wiser
July 26th, 2012
9:11 pm
It should be obvious to all that this so-called ‘Saul Good’ is some immature stupid punk that gets off by trashing anything in the news that day.
He/she also probably was forced to go to Sunday school classes as a child, and has a deep seated hatred of religion; that, or his/her inability to comprehend it.
I see this loser as some self-loathing fat little piglet filled with self hate, probably abused (self, of course), ans has no life.
You poor poor soul. Seek help now.
think
July 26th, 2012
9:11 pm
If Christians had invented marriage, put a patent on it, upheld it perfectly for the past 4,000 years, etc., then I might be willing to give them a political ear on the subject. However, they did not. America is about separating church from state, so I’m not sure why the subject of marriage is even a topic of politics when it comes to gay rights (technically, marriage is a legal contract that generates income for the state by requiring the purchase of a license) or why it’s necessary for Christians to get involved politically when they have every right to not allow gays to get married in their churches. That being said, I eat at CFA so rarely that it doesn’t make a difference where I stand on a political or religious front. I’m sure both sides are enjoying the free publicity.
oldsouthergal
July 26th, 2012
9:13 pm
to have any morals brings out the anti group, anti: church, marriage. because some want others to have no standards they jump on bandwagon to criticize any one who speaks out against homosexually. your rights end at my nose. very few business have the guts to speak out.
Will
July 26th, 2012
9:15 pm
I doubt the chain will really miss our business. It isn’t like gay men ate there all that often anyways. That’s why we are in so much better shape than straight men.
Ladies, let your men eat more chicken. I’ll find mine at the bar.
Who?
July 26th, 2012
9:16 pm
Saul Good,
You agree with Chick Fila. You’re endless rants are just a stubborn reaction. You know they are right. If you didn’t you would not give so much attention to this.
Hugh Jass
July 26th, 2012
9:16 pm
Chick-fil-A is not saying they hate gay people, they are saying they are against gay marriage. Huge difference. If you believe the Bible then gay marriage is total sin. The Bible and Chick-fil-a are saying love gay people but do not sanction their sin. One nation, under God.
.....
July 26th, 2012
9:17 pm
The bible was written by humans….not God.
bucket
July 26th, 2012
9:19 pm
It never ceases to amaze me how totally intolerant the “tolerant” crowd becomes when someone dares to disagree with them! Mr. Cathey didn’t say anything derogatory about gay people, he simply disagreed with gay marriage. Guess that makes at least half the country bigots and homophobes. They even voted down gay marriage in California for cying out loud!
Qotes
July 26th, 2012
9:19 pm
The bible aslo says that “Abraham tied his ass to a tree and walked 40 miles”. Sometimes it is open to interpretation.
Ayn Rand was Right
July 26th, 2012
9:20 pm
Who cares what their opinion of anything is. They are a private company and are welcome to run their business any way they see fit. They provide a high end fast food product for those that don’t want to eat pink slime. If you don’t want to support them, go to KFC.
Most fast food companies are publicly traded and so must tow the “politically correct” line. It’s refreshing to see a company that is making it big time and staying privately owned.
Saul Good
July 26th, 2012
9:21 pm
Bud…no I was simply AMAZED as a child that people believed such CRAP. A bunch of made up stories with ZERO evidence as being true (Noah’s arc, moses parting the res sea…and so on, and so on)…and GA Peach…you’re a typical GA Peach alright… nowhere here I have called anyone a name directly…yet YOU have the class of a GA born and bred girl to call names at someone you disagree with… it’s very in vogue with the talibangelicals I can see…name call to and at those you don’t agree with… must be something taught in your human authored and penned bibles alng with the rest of the hate…there’s no difference between American Talibangelicals beliefs and those in Saudi Arabia…you all “hate” ANYONE wh does not subscribe to your stone aged views.
Glad the Talibangelical youth keep leqaving your cult in record numbers…it’s very heart warming knowing that along with their support for their gay friends being allowed to marry…the culture war you started after you lost the civil rights war… well you’ve lost that as well… look at your kids…they don’t care who marries who… another war based upon “hate” that white christian america has lost…yet you’re continuing to kick and stomp as you go down in flames…
Harry Toothacher
July 26th, 2012
9:25 pm
This is nothing but Disney all over again. So Disney says “Christians, no offense, but we’re gonna do what we’re gonna do. Frankly we don’t care if we offend you, your little snot nose sniffling kiddos still love the mouse so you’ll keep coming and dumping your wallets into our huge sucking sound funnels at the front gate”. The liberals are hooping and hollering for Disney’s expressing “freedom of thought”.
Some white guy that also employs thousands of high school and college age whites/blacks/latinos/straight/gay/young/old/fat/skinny/acne faced folks so they can actually go to school and have a slight hope of not getting murdered on their way home because they didn’t have to deal drugs to make money says he believes in heterosexual marriage. And, btw, also says all are welcome and those same thousands of high school and college age whites/blacks/latinos/straight/gay/young/old/fat/skinny/acne faced folks will be happy to serve them whatever their pleasure. The liberals are hooping and hollering asking for the man’s head because the content of his “freedom of thought” offends them. What hypocrits.
Just what is “freedom of thought”?
By the way Rahm, cry me some more crocodile tears when some black kid dope dealer gets blown away on your miserable Chicago streets because you didn’t want him to make a decent living while also learning how to run a business. You miserable high brow modern day slave owner. What’s the body count tonight Rahm? Joe?
jv
July 26th, 2012
9:26 pm
It is almost hilarious how liberals only support free speech when it fits their point of view. 100% predictable!
Jim
July 26th, 2012
9:26 pm
if you want to compete, open chick-fil-gay and see how long it lasts…ed helms is a loser and always has been
Who?
July 26th, 2012
9:27 pm
Saul Good lives in the past because he thinks he has no present or future. Marriage has always, even before America was born been between a man and a woman. Your bondage to history does not change that.
Andy
July 26th, 2012
9:29 pm
This isn’t about his “opinion” this is about their donations.
WinShape Is Chick-Fil-A’s Charitable Arm.
The WinShape Foundation is Chick-fil-A’s charitable arm, created by Chick-fil-A founder and chairman S. Truett Cathy in 1984.
WinShape has received a substantial amount of funding from Chick-fil-A: in 2009 alone, WinShape received $7,814,788 from Chick-fil-A Inc. (Winshape 2009 Publicly Available IRS 990 Form via Foundation Center.
In 2009 alone, WinShape donated $1,733,699 to multiple anti-gay groups:
• Marriage & Family Legacy Fund: $994,199
• Fellowship Of Christian Athletes: $480,000
• National Christian Foundation: $240,000
• Focus On The Family: $12,500
• Eagle Forum: $5,000
• Exodus International: $1,000
• Family Research Council: $1,000
Let’s take a look at how you are supporting anit-gay bigotry around the globe when you buy some waffle fries (or anything else at Chick-fil-A):
Marriage & Family Legacy Fund: Founded by Exodus North America’s Alan Chambers who has admitted to anti-gay housing discrimination: “As a property owner of Orlando, I wouldn’t rent to someone who is gay…” He has also implied a connection between gay people and pedophiles with no evidence whatsoever: “I believe the gay community is a good group of people but with groups like NAMBLA (a pedophile group) riding on their coattails.”
Exodus International: Exodus International Board Member John Schmierer began his trips to Uganda in 2009, preaching alongside Nazi revisionist Scott Lively, spreading hatred of gay people to the people and leaders of the country. This directly led to their legislation requiring the execution of some gay people.
In Schmierer’s future trips to Uganda, he would whip up anti-gay furor with lies linking homosexuality to child abuse, calling for mandatory “conversion therapy” for homosexuals and any other number of falsehoods he could come up with.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes: The FCA is decidedly anti-gay and discriminates against gay people from participating. Their website even goes on about “saving” people from being gay. Danny Burns, the National College Conference of the FCA spoke of people being “freed from homosexuality” at the 2011 annual conference.
Focus on the Family: Founded by James Dobson, FotF has been at the front of most anti-gay movements the US has seen since it’s founding. They have supported and funded “Ex-Gay” organizations for years and one of their co-founders (George Alan Rekers) was actually found bringing a gay sex worker on vacation with him.
These same organizations have been one of the primary causes of suicide among young gay people forced to go through this “therapy.” Dobson believes gay people will destroy the earth:
GA Peach
July 26th, 2012
9:30 pm
Saul Good your angry. Maybe you need a nap or your meds. I have other things to do. CHICK-FIL-A ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Atlanta truth
July 26th, 2012
9:31 pm
Ummmm……. Christian ? Offensive and discriminatory. I am Hindi. I am Muslim. I am Buddhist. I am Shinto. I am GLOBAL !!! This is America. STOP pressing the Christian lifestyle and ideology onto my life ! STOP ! What don’t you get ? This is NOT the Christian States of America ! Mister Chik Fil A or Mister Tea Bagger or Mister Fox News or ANYONE ! It’s that simple. My godS …. what don’t you get about this concept ? YOUR Christian concept of family / religion / beliefs IS NOT THE WORLD RULE !! Back off and check ya self !
MD
July 26th, 2012
9:32 pm
Guess everyone has figured out what Saul is by now! LOL
PK
July 26th, 2012
9:32 pm
It was also the opinion of Hitler that Jews should be murdered…
GreatATLGuy
July 26th, 2012
9:35 pm
Stereotypical GA hicks…. CFA is the laughing stock of America. And their food is gross…. greasy, fried, fatty… most of the people I see in there are fat hicks, too, gobbling down greasy chicken meat.
Vegan
July 26th, 2012
9:36 pm
Yes, by god let the heterosexuals have marriage all to themselves. Why on earth would the gays want to engage in something the straights have been screwing up for thousands of years. If they can’t get it right in all that time the gays should move on to something different.
Unfortunately as we can all see, most of the posters on this thread are little more than bigoted lowbrow cretins, and we all know you just can’t help stupid. I’ll bet most of the married straight men on this thread regularly beat their fat wives.
foghorn leghorn
July 26th, 2012
9:37 pm
a moron like ed helms repeats the stupid statement that CFA hates gays and says he won’t go there anymore. he never heard a statement like that made and can’t point to one, but he comes to this conclusion.
Kyle
July 26th, 2012
9:37 pm
August 1…..sounds good. I will eat breakfast, lunch and maybe dinner at Chic that day. Whatever it takes to show how much I hate pansy Democrats and love this Country.
foghorn leghorn
July 26th, 2012
9:38 pm
vegan – you are the example of what you hate.
GoChickFilA
July 26th, 2012
9:38 pm
Since when did it become wrong to voice your opinion? I’m so sick of GAYS getting offended when someone says they don’t support their definition of marriage! It’s okay to call liars out as sin, it’s okay to call murderers out as sin, but its not okay to call gayness out. Just because one doesn’t conform to the norm and pacify the situation does not mean they are not “Christ” like. No one said all gays should die or they are going to hell. All that is said is I don’t support it. Thats my right! I will definitely be eating more chicken and will even buy gift cards as prizes for my classroom this year! Good Job! Finally someone gets a backbone and stand on their beliefs and not just what will get them more $ and popularity!
foghorn leghorn
July 26th, 2012
9:39 pm
GreatATLGuy
July 26th, 2012
9:35 pm
was that you eating at the varsity?
bucket
July 26th, 2012
9:40 pm
BTW, the biblical definition of marriage has always been consistent. In Genesis 2:24 it is revealed for the first time that a man should leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. In Matthew 19:5 when Jesus had a chance to alter that definition he instead restated Genesis 2:24. The fact that people in the Old Testament didn’t always live up to the definition does not change the definition (It says wife, not wives). People also cloud the argument with confusion over the ceremonial law, or what was important to remain clean for temple worship, and the moral law. The ceremonial law was fulfilled with the coming of Christ, for instance pork and shellfish is no longer unclean. It is not necessarily healthy, but it’s ok to eat. The moral law was restated in the New Testament and is therefore still in effect today. i.e.: Don’t steal, don’t kill, no adultery, one man + one woman = biblical marriage.
CE
July 26th, 2012
9:41 pm
Given that his belief are based on Christian principle as it relates to marriage, what if he says he is against adultery, excessive use of alcohol, sex outside of marriage, all of which are “sin.” Will the unfaithful in marriage, alcoholic/substance abusers and the unmarried people who are not celibate stop eating at Chik-Fil-A. I think not. It seems a double standards of gays and their supporters who often claims others are intolerant of their beliefs/lifestyle, while not allowing others they same opportunity. I don’t understand how chicken has become a politicial issue.
JB
July 26th, 2012
9:42 pm
And the downside of a Saul-less Chik Fil A is what? Eaten there 3 times this week. And no, I didn’t. I’ve had the Char grill on muti grain bun and two salads. Gonna get the chicken biscuit in the AM though. That’ll be about 20 bucks this week so far and the week is not over. Also wrote that low life in Chicago and told him I won’t be coming….and would love to see his face if the 65 million Christians wrote and said they won’t be coming. Then the Chamber guy would call and ask what the H___ was he thinking. Boy, that guy is slime.
CE
July 26th, 2012
9:43 pm
Since the owner’s comment was Biblically based, I assume if he said he was against adultery, excessive use of alcohol, or sex before marriage, then the adulterers, alcoholic/substance abusers, and those who have sex outside of marriage would stop coming as well.
3d
July 26th, 2012
9:44 pm
What did everyone expect from the gutless in Hollywood?
Looks like we pretty much got it.
Kim
July 26th, 2012
9:44 pm
Perez Hilton should be sued for slander. What a POS. We know what causes his diarrhea…it’s an exit only.
I’ll be at Chick-fil-A next Wednesday showing my support. Yum!
JB
July 26th, 2012
9:45 pm
Does National Gay Day and National chicken day fall in the same month. Where is the first protest? Maybe 10,000 Christians will show up and them the creeps….
Gator Guy
July 26th, 2012
9:45 pm
Saul Good must be a KFC fan–Have another bucket fruitloop!!! lol
Atlanta truth
July 26th, 2012
9:45 pm
Again ……….. bloggers who are quoting scripture from ONE religious book, the Christian Bible, you are speaking of ONE religion — I DON’T CARE NOR KNOW OF THAT RELIGION. I am of another faith here in America. Talk to me in the context of humanity and equality and being nice to one another and letting me love who I want to love. Understand ? What is so complicated about this concept ? Or do you feel we all MUST adhere to this dogma ?
JB
July 26th, 2012
9:46 pm
WSJ reporting sales at CFA spiked 28% this week.
JB
July 26th, 2012
9:47 pm
yea Atlanta truth……….. It’s a fad like snaple. Don’t think this Christian stuff will make it.
tj
July 26th, 2012
9:48 pm
While I disagree with Mr. Cathy’s position, I most certainly respect and would defend his right to his opinion. The 1st Amendment Rocks.