Chick-fil-A billionaire CEO says his anti-gay marriage statements hurt business

[TexasTowelie]

Now, almost two years later, Dan Cathy — a self-described evangelical Christian — says he made a mistake.

In a rare and wide-ranging interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cathy admitted his anti-equality stance probably wasn’t a wise business decision, regretting “making the company a symbol in the marriage debate:”

“Every leader goes through different phases of maturity, growth and development, and it helps by [recognizing] the mistakes that you make,” Cathy said. “And you learn from those mistakes. If not, you’re just a fool. I’m thankful that I lived through it and I learned a lot from it.”

Cathy agreed that the “lingering identity” of Chick-fil-A with “anti-gay groups” that jumped to its defense in 2012 has meant “alienating market segments.”

“Consumers want to do business with brands that they can interface with, that they can relate with,” Cathy said. “And it’s probably very wise from our standpoint to make sure that we present our brand in a compelling way that the consumer can relate to.”

More at http://www.dallasvoice.com/chick-fil-a-billionaire-dan-cathy-public-statements-gay-marriage-bad-business-10169385.html .

[In_The_Wind]

1. His statements cost Chick-fil-A 100% of my business.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Good for you!

I haven't been back there either since the controversy arose.

[jeff47]

3. Yep. The closed-on-Sunday thing made me try to avoid them.

But I'd still eat there in a pinch.

The anti-gay statements mean I'll go hungry instead.

[In_The_Wind]

8. I'm out on the road during warm weather months. In the past I've picked up lunch there.

It was a change from burgers on the go.

I'll eat pizza instead (and take home the leftovers).

[JoeyT]

14. +1

That's pretty much how I felt/feel.

[CherokeeDem]

5. Rarely ate there before...

after the CEO made that statement... never again.

[madaboutharry]

4. His comments are offensive.

He is concerned about how his comments hurt business, but not able to self-reflect on how hurtful they were to people or how wrong they are.

[TexasTowelie]

6. +1

He is a completely selfish and greedy bastard.

[get the red out]

7. Well you could try

supporting equality for everyone. Just a thought.....

[riversedge]

9. The bottom line is still his main concern--NOT treating people with

respect.

[stevenleser]

19. That was my first thought too. It seems like his takeaway was not that LGBT should have rights but

that he should be more careful about saying things that might hurt his business.

[1Independent]

10. Chik-fil-a

I call it Sick-fil-a

I have not entered one of his stores nor will I ever.

He made his statement and apologizes only after losing money.

There are better businesses and business people out there!

[Feral Child]

11. I'm glad it hurt his business.

It should, the sanctimonious wanker.

[global1]

12. Well "HELLO" Ya Think!!!!......nt

[sheshe2]

13. oh well, boo effing hoo!

That wasn't an apology and the only thing that you learned was that your bank account took a hit.

You open your mouth and spew your disgusting hate then you live with the consequences.
I have never been to one and never will.

[Thinkingabout]

15. One lesson many needs to learn.

I guess one could say the TP bunch only went a few times after he made his remarks and now they hare returned to their bedroom homes there is a void.

[uriel1972]

16. My heart bleeds....

but, "brands that they can interface with"? WTF?

[Walk away]

17. It's a "win/win" for the chickens! nt

[King_David]

18. Chick-fil-A CEO Cathy: Gay Marriage Still Wrong, But I'll Shut Up About It And Sell Chicken

http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/03/19/chick-fil-a-ceo-cathy-gay-marriage-still-wrong-but-ill-shut-up-about-it-and-sell-chicken/

[RKP5637]

20. We would never eat there EVER as a manner of principle. Also, if he had not lost

money, his stance would be the same. Nothing has changed, he just does not want to lose any $$$$$, so IMO, his ramblings are not sincere in the least.

[Initech]

21. Was this published in "Duh! Magazine"?

[Lunacee_2013]

22. Good.

I hope he learns from this and changes his mind on the LGBT issue, if only because I like their fries and chicken.... I actually haven't eaten there in years, if he comes out in support of equal rights for all, I just might go back.

[nightscanner59]

23. My ex went for an interview at a ChickFil-A circa 1996

I was a little baffled by the sign, didn't at first get the idea of the phonetic pronunciation of the "A", then facepalmed once conceived. Regardless, as a jobless upper 20-something, my ex read the ad in the paper they needed staff, so went for an interview.
When I went to pick him up from that... it was apparent he was really upset and wasted no energy slamming the door of the establishment behind him to jump into the car. He told me the interviewer asked deeply personal questions, including whether David was gay, had apparently seen me drop him off and surmised about that.
So despite sort of having a shudder about the name of the place to begin with, the botched interview of my ex, now many years later the publicly anti-gay stance the CEO took... I can honestly claim being completely Chick-Fil-A free. Never tried it, and never will.
So hell yes the idiot alienating great numbers of potential customers taking a political stance with a product is just foolish.

[NCLefty]

24. Oh. So he wants our money after all?

Does he still think my family is an affront to the jesus? I'm guessing "yes."

[Zorra]

25. I'm a lifetime rural westerner, and never even saw a Chik fil A store before last year.

I'd never even heard of it before RW religious bigot spewed his hate a few years back.

They put a store in Flagstaff last year.

*sigh*...there goes the neighborhood,

[mike_c]

26. they can stick "their brand" where the sun doesn't shine....

I'll never step foot inside a Chik-fil-a. Bigots.

[SamKnause]

27. Good

We have enough hate and division in this country and the around the globe.

[Gothmog]

28. I do not like this chain

My kids used to like this chain but now they are also boycotting these homophobes

[sdfernando]

29. Was never a customer anyway

as there were none near me. Later one did crop up and I thought I would try it out. Before I could actually make it there he made those asinine comments and as a result, never gained me as a customer. I will not set foot in that place along with walmart and a host of other establishments.

[oldandhappy]

30. Funny how that works, eh?

Gays have money and eat.
People who love gays have money and eat.
People who know gays have money and eat.
People who support gays have money and eat.

Jesus said to love people. Dan Cathy, you are a pharisee.

[riqster]

31. Waaaah.