‘Today’ Fans React After Craig Melvin Grills Chick-fil-A CEO on LGBTQ+ Rights

Today fans had mixed feelings about Craig Melvin‘s interview with Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy.

Melvin chatted with Cathy about the fast food chain’s origins, humanitarian work, and legacy in a pre-recorded package on the Wednesday, October 14, episode of Today. During the conversation, Melvin recalled how the company’s religious “corporate promise” came under fire in 2012 when the former CEO, Andrew’s father Dan Cathy, publicly declared that Chick-fil-A was against gay marriage.

“Public documents revealed Chick-fil-A had donated millions to conservative Christian organizations opposed to LGBTQ rights,” Melvin said in a voiceover. “The comments and financial disclosures unleashed a culture war, with protests, boycotts, and political pushback on both sides. Dan Cathy never changed his stance on gay marriage, but he did express regret for involving the company in the debate.”

While talking to Andrew, Melvin asked, “There were folks who were protesting. They were boycotting Chick-fil-A. They’d say, ‘Oh, Chick-fil-A, they don’t stand with the LGBTQ+ community.’ What do you say to those folks?”

In response, Andrew said, “Well, for anybody that hadn’t tried us, we’d love for you to come try and have our great-tasting food and the hospitality that we’re known for. I think that everybody that’d be willing to walk in the door, they’ll see that they’re welcome to come eat with us. We’d love to give them a great-tasting sandwich and give them that great hospitality.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TODAY (@todayshow)

Melvin reacted to Andrew’s answer by asking, “You don’t want to talk about that chapter in Chick-fil-A’s history, do you?” He replied, “We’re focused on serving everybody that comes in and eats with us.”

Trying once more to get a definitive answer, Melvin asked, “The company’s official position on equal rights is?” Andrew reiterated his previous comments, stating, “We’re focused on hospitality, serving great-tasting food and great service.”

Related

'Today' Hosts Crack Up Over Fan Voting Campaign for Craig Melvin

Viewers took to social media to share their own reactions to the awkward interview moment. “Ah, the old I-don’t-support-your-right-to-equality-but-I’m-happy-to-take-your-money gambit. Exactly why I’ve never eaten at a Chik-Fil-A, and I never will,” one person commented on Today‘s Instagram page.

Offering a different opinion, another user wrote, “A great answer. A restaurant with true hospitality opens its doors to all and is committed to providing excellent service to each patron who walks through the door. Period. Chick-Fil-A does this extremely well!”

Former Today anchor Katie Couric even joined in on the debate, commenting, “A non answer answer. This is what his father Dan Cathy said in 2012. ‘We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition.’ A good follow up would have been: “Do you agree with your father?'”

Someone else wrote, “I think he answered said they invite everyone. And they’re focused on their food and the dining experience.” A different person posted, “So basically what he saying is we will take your money and be nice to you as long as you are paying us while we donate to strip you of your rights. NOTED! Glad it is clear.”

A separate commenter said, “This is a cop out answer from an executive. So media trained it’s disengenuous.” One fan stated, “Man, @chickfila you probably should have just not done the interview. The saxophones are getting louder.”

Another person argued, “He is simply saying that ALL are welcome, isn’t that Jesus 101? You may be this, or identify as that, or call yourself whatever … you. are. welcome. Come inside, maybe you will see the goodness of God inside those walls.”

Today, Weekdays, 7 am/6c, NBC

Third hour of Today, Weekdays, 9 am/8c, NBC