We live in an era when brands want to be people, too, from quirky social media accounts to razor companies coming out as woke. To the latter, we can now add…Cracker Barrel? On Wednesday it was revealed that the Southern-themed restaurant chain had put the kibosh on an anti-gay pastor who wanted to hold an event at one of their locations, prompting online delight as well as surprise.
The chain — which allows patrons to chill in rocking chairs before devouring “sawmill gravy” and, on the way out, buying one of those wooden dogs with flappy feet you push around on a stick — came out against one Grayson Fitts, a Tennessee pastor and also a county police detective. As per CNN, Fitts was planning an event for his congregation, the All Scripture Baptist Church, at one of the restaurant’s Tennessee locations. Also of note: Back in early June Fitts, in a (since deleted) video posted on the church’s website, called for the execution of LGBTQ people.
After the Tennessee Democratic Party learned of Fitts’ Cracker Barrel to-do, they publicly let the chain’s social media know. And lo and behold, Cracker Barrel took action.
We work hard every day to foster a culture that is welcoming and inclusive. Please see our full statement below. pic.twitter.com/1bpsJ0YmCn
— Cracker Barrel (@CrackerBarrel) June 18, 2019
In a statement posted to Twitter, the company announced that Fitts and his congregation would “not be permitted on site.” They went on to say, “At Cracker Barrel, we work hard to foster a culture that is welcoming and inclusive,” then cited their “zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory treatment or harassment of any sort.
“We take pride in serving as a home away from home for all guests and in showing our communities and our country that the hospitality we practice is open for everyone,” the company added. “We serve everyone who walks through our doors with genuine hospitality, not hate, and require all guests to do the same.”
The move is an about-face from the early ’90s, when the chain came under fire for anti-LGBTQ practices, including firing employees who did not display “normal heterosexual values.” By 2013, however, the company had evolved so much that they pulled Duck Dynasty products from their shelves after star Phil Robertson made homophobic comments.
Still, perhaps everyone forget about the Duck Dynasty story, because lots of people on social media were shocked the Cracker Barrel would be so progressive.
*sees Cracker Barrel trending and expects them to have done some unprogressive shit*
*finds out they banned an anti-gay pastor* pic.twitter.com/VETV7kz5Pw— Emberstrife (@Emberstrife) June 19, 2019
Imagine being so full of righteous Christian hatred that even Cracker Barrell tells you to get the fuck out.https://t.co/P2kOUfjW0w
— Andrew L. Seidel (@AndrewLSeidel) June 19, 2019
I saw Cracker Barrel trending and I was like no no no no omg what!! Then I read they’re DENYING a pastor who called for executions of LGBT people of holding an event at their establishment and I was like WHEW, I commend you, Cracker Barrel!! 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/HqVjx20pbv
— clαire g ﺕ (@Clarissa_001) June 19, 2019
Worried when I saw Cracker Barrel trending…but pic.twitter.com/4BIoqwM7zJ
— Bee💙 (@beejmarr27) June 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/imagidadnation/status/1141491778618417153
I found that Cracker Barrel was trending for getting rid of a homophobic pastor. pic.twitter.com/5MHVX15OYo
— Diego V (@DiegoTheMOTH) June 19, 2019
Well I’ll be damned. When Cracker Barrel is fed up with your shit you know you done fucked up! https://t.co/xg0FTbxs6v
— Captain Cristobal (@CRS_One) June 20, 2019
Others noticed how much the company had changed.
1991: Cracker Barrel fires an employee because she was a lesbian and it went against their "family values."
2019: CB bans anti-gay pastor Grayson Fritts' event due to a zero-tolerance policy for "discriminatory treatment or harassment of any sort."
The boycotts work, people.
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) June 19, 2019
Others simply gave them props.
Cracker Barrel, making America great.https://t.co/um3zrobS0M
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) June 19, 2019
Way to go Cracker Barrel, the next time I drive by I’ll give you a thumbs up, I won’t go inside, but I’ll give you a thumbs up 👍 pic.twitter.com/h7KyEPbUDQ
— Dylan Adam (@dpizzle2adizzle) June 19, 2019
Great choice "Cracker Barrel"! It may be called the "OLD Country Store", but that certainly doesn't mean that their positions have to be! ✌🏻❤🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/8T2apd3jYX
— Ophelia❤️sST!🥧💈🔪 (@EarthFae306) June 20, 2019
*sees Cracker Barrel trending and expects them to have done some unprogressive shit*
*finds out they banned an anti-gay pastor* pic.twitter.com/VETV7kz5Pw— Emberstrife (@Emberstrife) June 19, 2019
This is how Tennessee deports someone https://t.co/uolfCyBwrP
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) June 19, 2019
Me heading to cracker barrel like pic.twitter.com/Cbmd28GtsJ
— John (@DragonAge142) June 19, 2019
(Via CNN)