One of our most commented-on stories last week was the news that celebrities were calling for a boycott of Chick-fil-A after their President stated firmly, and publicly, that he was against same sex marriage. We’ve previously heard that the fast food chain had donated millions to Christian groups working to block gay marriage, but they handled that news last year by claiming they welcomed all customers and did not have a political agenda. With President Dan Cathy’s latest statement that “We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit,” he had drawn a very clear line in the sand, not just personally but as the representative of a company that served the public. He seemed to be speaking for all of Chick-fil-A’s owners. Many people took sides and decided not to give them their business any more.
Cathy’s statement also cost the company at least one business relationship. The Jim Henson company, whose Muppet “Creature Shop toys” were included in Chick-fil-A kids meals as of last week, has pulled all toys from the chain. They issued a statement that it was due to Chick-fil-A’s stance on gay marriage. The fast food chain has signs up (image above) claiming the toys were removed due safety concerns, but the Jim Henson company has made it clear that isn’t the case. They posted the following statement on 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/)
[From Facebook via Daily Mail]
As I wrote in our last story, the President of Chick-fil-A has every right to his opinion, which he’s clearly said is how his entire organization operates. Other people, and organizations, have a right to their stance on such hot button issues as gay marriage as well. They also choose to take their business elsewhere.
Jim Henson’s Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie have been rumored to be a gay couple. Sesame Street has denied this is the case, as have both Bert and Ernie in separate appearances.
Well props to the Henson Company for also stating what they believe as a company.
They aren’t saying that the owner of Chic Fil A can’t believe what he wants, just that they can not work with a company that holds that view. I’ll be supporting the Henson Company more via my wallet for sure.
BTW, the comments on this from CNN were horrible. Some of the comments about Sesame Street? ick.
I love that you posted Muppet pictures and not of that Cathy dude.
Just an FYI: Disney owns the Muppet name and characters, not the Jim Henson Company. The toys pulled were from the Jim Henson’s Creature Workshop Puppet line.
Either way, this was a dumb move on CFA’s part. Not the pulling of the toys as much as it is lying about the reason why.
Wow, I can handle Chick-fil-a having that opinion (even though I strongly disagree with it) but the flat out lying about the toy recall? Not only is that obnoxious it’s a horrible PR move. If you’re going to take a public stand then you have to deal with the opposing backlash.
What a bunch of wimps…..
Kirstie Alley in that black and white chanel suit with the strands of pearls never looked better and great that she’s going green too!!!!!!!
extra slow today but will blame it on the fact there was a Kirstie ALley post right next to this one.
in plain English: Corny- the comment was so brilliant it went over my head for a good 20 secs before the lightbulb turned on
I agree with this 200%. Let people have their opinions. I think most of the outrage is that, true to big-company form, Chick-Fil-A has LIED about their business practices (in this case, why Jim Henson is no longer working with them).
What really does bother me is how, at least on my Facebook timeline, the uber-Christians are praising Cathy for his stance against homosexuality (which is fine, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs) but at the end of the day they have NOTHING to say about his lies and dishonesty, which is also un-Christian-like.
I guess they conveniently forgot the whole Thall Shalt Not Lie commandment….
How Christian of CFA to lie about why the Henson Co pulled their toys.
Love the Muppets~far more than Chick-Fil-A, which has exposed their cretinous, prejudiced, sexist agenda for what it truly is. Since they are a fast food chain, and therefore their “food” has very little actual nutritive value, it certainly is no big loss to the American consumer. Be aware of where your money is going, people! Who you spend your money with makes a huge difference~ultimately, YOU are the true job creator with your economic power.
What idiots. Why lie about the recall when the real reason is ALL over the news??!?
My son watched PBS Kids yesterday for the first time in years (he was sick and looking for “comfort TV”) and I was not happy to see a Chick-Fil-A ad in between shows. Hopefully they PBS will consider pulling them sometime soon.
I’m glad that the Jim Henson company has the integrity to end their association with Chick-Fil-A who are evidently anti-gay marriage, and pro-blatant lying.
Isn’t that libel?
Just another bunch of intolerant idiots that I will be boycotting. Christians have freedom of speech, too, not just libtards and disgusting sodomites.
Personally, I don’t think a company affiliated with the Muppets or any kids related company should have any political stance pro or con–even for good reasons.
I find the whole lying thing disgusting. If you split because of policies just say so don’t lie about it.
Also growing tired of the way homosexuals are pushing their life style on others. Mostly young children who should not be concern with sexuality at all .
My mom is gay but she didn’t demand me to explain to her
grandsons what being gay is.
Its up to the parents to choose how and when is the right time. For their children cause not all children mature at the
same rate. My son is five and
if I told him being gay means
you don’t like girls only boys
than guess what he’ll think
he’s gay because as of right
now girls are weird and gross
Kids are off limits period. That goes for everyone even the church. If you don’t get what Im saying fine just don’t call me a homophobic it’s highly offensive 🙂
The best part of this is that they donated the money to GLADD. That made my day, oh the irony. Payback’s a b****!
I can’t believe I actually liked this show as a kid. No wonder that the new generation has no morals. It is disgusting that they target kids.
Hell hath no fury like a Muppet scorned. Good for them! Never ate at CFA, never will.
Hahahaha, does that guy really know what “the biblical definition” of a family is? I’m not religious but if I remember correctly, the protagonists of the Old Testament were involved in a lot of not-so-wholesome family drama, with some stories going along the lines of some lady offering her husband her handmaiden so he could impregnate her and they could raise the kids as their own, etc.
I find it extremely disturbing that CFA is being bullied and rallied against for taking a stance against gay marriage, but yet if any stance is taken against those who support gay marriage it’s called discrimination. Why is it forced upon people to accept gays, but it’s not ok to disagree with it?? I personally don’t want the filth and garbage on TV and advertised everywhere I turn. So I should be punished because I don’t accept it and acknowledge it?!?! Talk about BS!!!
They’re not being “bullied and rallied against for taking a stance against gay marriage”. The problem isn’t that they are against gay marriage, the problem is that they are taking money that they are getting from the public and donating to causes that many of us are strongly against. I have not eaten there in close to a year because I will refuse to let my hard earned money go to such terrible organizations.
No, the liberals are CLEARLY saying over and over again it’s because of his comment over them not supporting gay marriage. It has nothing to do with them donating money that “many of you are against”. It’s EXACTLY because they don’t support what you believe in.
good for them.