Chick-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy on Friday
made a statement denying reports the company had reversed course on
gay marriage.
Former Arkansas governor and Fox News
commentator Mike Huckabee posted the statement on his website.
“I talked earlier today personally
with Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-Fil-A about the new reports that
Chick-Fil-A had capitulated to demands of the supporters of same sex
marriage. This is not true. The company continues to focus on the
fair treatment of all its customers and employees, but to end the
confusion gave me this statement,” Huckabee wrote.
“There continues to be erroneous
implications in the media that Chick-Fil-A changed our practices and
priorities in order to obtain permission for a new restaurant in
Chicago,” the statement said. “This is incorrect. Chick-Fil-A
made no such concessions, and we remain true to who we are and who we
have been.”
Chicago Alderman Proco “Joe” Moreno
on Wednesday asserted that he had dropped his opposition to a planned
Chick-Fil-A eatery in his ward after the company pledged to no longer
fund groups with “political agendas” and promised to include a
statement of respect for people of all sexual orientations in an
internal memo titled “Chick-Fil-A: Who We Are.”
But the company has refused repeated
media requests to confirm Moreno's assertions.
Huckabee came to the aid of the company
as it fended off criticism for Cathy saying that gay marriage is
“inviting God's judgment on our nation,” organizing the
successful August 1 Chick-Fil-A “Appreciation Day.”