Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy deleted
a tweet criticizing two Supreme Court rulings related to gay
marriage.
The high court released the decisions
on Wednesday. Together they mean that California will become the
13th state, plus the District of Columbia, to allow gay
nuptials, and that the federal government must recognize those
unions.
“Sad day for our nation; founding
fathers would be ashamed of our gen. to abandon wisdom of the ages
re: cornerstone of strong societies,” Cathy messaged.
Cathy
took down the tweet. In a prepared statement, the fast-food
eatery explained why.
“He realized his views didn't
necessarily represent the views of all customers, restaurant owners
and employees and didn't want to distract them from providing a great
restaurant experience,” the company said.
Last July, Cathy created a firestorm of
controversy when he defended his company's support of groups opposed
to marriage equality and described supporters as “arrogant.”
“I think we are inviting God's
judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We
know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,'” Cathy
said in an interview on the Ken Coleman Show. “And I pray
God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant
attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage
is about.”
The backlash – which included
condemnations from several politicians, boycotts and protests –
touched off a conservative campaign in support of Chick-fil-A,
culminating in “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.”