Brownstone Worldwide Reporting: Chick-fil-A Faces Backlash After Hiring DEI Executive

Atlanta-based fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, known for its conservative values and opposition to same-sex marriage, has ignited controversy and boycott calls following the announcement of its new hire for the position of Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Erick McReynolds, who has been with Chick-fil-A since 2007, was promoted to the role of Vice President of DEI in November 2021, as indicated on his LinkedIn profile. While McReynolds assumed the position two years ago, it gained recent attention on social media, leading to an outpouring of criticism from conservatives who claim that the company has succumbed to the “woke” culture.

The LGBTQ-related controversies involving other brands such as Bud Light, Target, and Kohl’s have placed corporate America’s embrace of DEI under scrutiny. Critics on the conservative side argue that diversity initiatives based on race and gender are discriminatory. Conservative strategist Joey Mannarino voiced his concerns, stating, “This is bad. Very bad. I don’t want to have to boycott. Are we going to have to boycott?” Mannarino conducted a poll among his 166,000 followers, asking whether a boycott is warranted.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, the poll results revealed that just over 47% of respondents supported a boycott, while more than half, 52.4%, opposed it. Mannarino shared a link to Chick-fil-A’s website page titled “Committed to being Better at Together.”

Chick-fil-A responded to the controversy, affirming its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The company emphasized that it makes employment decisions without discrimination and is dedicated to maintaining harassment-free work environments. Furthermore, Chick-fil-A stated, “One of our core values is that we are better together. When we combine our unique backgrounds and experiences with a culture of belonging, we can discover new ways to strengthen the quality of care we deliver to customers, communities, and the world.”

McReynolds, the newly appointed Vice President of DEI, expressed his dedication to fostering mutual respect, understanding, and dignity throughout the company’s business endeavors.