Chick-fil-A chief executive Andrew Cathy has declined to directly address concerns about the fast-food giant's history of funding organisations opposed to LGBTQ+ equality, despite fresh scrutiny following the company's expansion into the UK.
Speaking on NBC's Today programme, Cathy was asked about Chick-fil-A's controversial record on LGBTQ+ issues and how he would respond to critics of the brand.
The US chicken chain has faced criticism for years over comments made by former chief executive Dan Cathy opposing same-sex marriage, as well as charitable donations to organisations accused by campaigners of opposing LGBTQ+ rights.
Asked what he would say to protesters today, Cathy did not directly respond to concerns about the company's past donations or whether its position on LGBTQ+ equality had changed.
Instead, he said Chick-fil-A was focused on hospitality and serving customers. "For anybody that hasn'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," he said.
"We're focused on serving everybody that comes in to eat with us."
Presenter Craig Melvin challenged the response, suggesting Cathy appeared unwilling to discuss that period of the company's history. However, the chief executive continued to emphasise customer service rather than addressing the concerns raised by LGBTQ+ campaigners.
The interview comes months after human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell led a protest outside Chick-fil-A's first London restaurant in Kingston upon Thames when it opened in March. Campaigners challenged the company over its past funding of organisations that oppose LGBTQ+ equality and called on the business to provide assurances that it would not support such groups in the future.
Graham Robson
According to the Peter Tatchell Foundation, repeated requests for meetings and written assurances from Chick-fil-A had gone unanswered before the protest. The organisation urged the company to publicly commit to ending any financial support for organisations that campaign against LGBTQ+ rights.
At the time, Tatchell said campaigners had been unable to secure guarantees that the company would not fund organisations opposed to LGBTQ+ equality in the future, and called on consumers to boycott the chain until such commitments were made. He also cited concerns over historic donations by Chick-fil-A's charitable arm to groups including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Focus on the Family and the National Christian Charitable Foundation.
Chick-fil-A announced in 2019 that it would refocus its charitable giving on organisations working in education, homelessness and hunger. However, the company's past record continues to attract scrutiny from LGBTQ+ campaigners as it expands internationally.
Cathy, who became chief executive in 2021, is the third generation of the Cathy family to lead the privately owned business.
During the interview he also defended the chain's long-standing practice of closing on Sundays, saying it allows staff time to rest, spend time with family and attend church if they wish.
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