Chick-Fil-A Ratings Plummet

As supporters of Chick-fil-A say they’ll head to the fast food chain to show their appreciation today, the numbers don’t lie. YouGov recently released details about Chick-fil-A’s brand approval, saying that prior to the president of the company’s controversial comments about homosexuality and opposition to same-sex marriage last month, the company scored a strong 65 on the index, well above the Top National Quick Service Restaurant Sector average of 46. But ever since the flap over Dan Cathy denouncing LGBT rights and reports revealing donations of two million dollars to hate groups that believe in reparative therapy and worse, Chick-fil-A’s popularity has been in a downward spiral.

In fact, the company’s score first fell swiftly to 47 – and then to 39 as of last week. Today, it’s at its lowest point since August of 2010 when Chick-fil-A first came under fire for supporting anti-gay groups.

Competitors like Taco Bell, KFC, McDonald’s and Burger King, however, are still ranking high, according to GLAAD, despite efforts by Mike Huckabee to celebrate the chain today. “We’re simply asking people to eat chicken and not to be one when it’s time to take a stand-our appreciation is not only for the views of Dan Cathy, but for his right to have them and express them freely,” wrote Huckbee on the Facebook page he created. But there’s a big difference between supporting free speech and supporting a company that funnels money to hate groups.

One of our readers had this to say about today’s Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day: “Eating at Chick-fil-A [today] is a way of saying, ‘I’m a homophobe and I’m proud of it.’ We should all be standing out front with cameras!”

LGBT groups are encouraging those who oppose Chick-fil-A’s anti-gay message to instead patronize restaurants that support gay rights today – or to show up at your local Chick-fil-A franchise to have a friendly same-sex kiss in.

Courtesy of YouGov