Florida Senator Marco Rubio weighed in on a controversy that unfolded this past week over a tweet by the CEO of Twitter, who faced criticism from some after he posted a screenshot to his social media platform showing that he had received cash back from eating at Chick-fil-A thanks to his company Square’s cash app.
“This lunacy has gone too far. The CEO of @Twitter bullied into [an] apology for patronizing @ChickfilA because owners support [the] ‘biblical definition of marriage.’ Holding a personal view taught by mainstream Christianity is now boycott worthy,” Rubio lamented.
The matter began on Sunday when Twitter’s Jack Dorsey posted the screenshot of the transaction, simply writing “Boost @ ChickfilA.”
“This is an interesting company to boost during Pride month, @jack,” soon remarked former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien.
“You’re right. Completely forgot about their background,” Dorsey responded.
In the hours and days that followed, others criticized Dorsey for the tweet and sought to shame him about the matter.
“I can’t believe you recommend these evil owners to anyone! They hate gay people!” one wrote.
“Well @jack now we all know why you allow @realDonaldTrump and his bigotry to run rampant on your platform. @ChickfilA fits right in. #BigotryLovesCompany #SFPride #Pride #HateTastesDelicious What good is @Twitter anyway? #disaapointed and #angry,” another stated.
“How was this not caught/talked about internally on the cash team and marketing before posting?” a third commenter stated.
“Find a new alliance. I don’t support businesses owned by people who do not celebrate my values or the businesses that support them. I know @ChickfilA has fans. I am not one of them. My family deserves better. And why do this on #Pride #PrideMonth? Shame @Square,” another opined.
However, some told Dorsey that he should not have apologized.
“Is this real life, @jack!?!? Left wants you to be accepting of everyone until you endorse someone who goes against their beliefs. Then the backlash begins,” one commented.
“Sad to hear that you got such flack from folks because you ate at Chick-fil-a. Even sadder that you caved to their pressure and apologized! Why is it that Christians are supposed to accept them but they will not accept Christians? Reverse discrimination at it’s finest!” another stated.
“You have nothing to apologize for. Don’t let the ‘tolerant’ left #bully you into apologies,” a third wrote.
“Jesus still loves you, Jack. Remember even Peter denied Him three times. Repent and be saved,” another remarked.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio soon also weighed in on the matter, expressing concern over the behavior of the “Twitter mob.”
“@ChickfilA isn’t denying service to anyone. But if you eat there you must be attacked by the Twitter mob b/c owner agrees with what his church teaches about marriage? Why would Twitter mob stop at biz owned by Christians? Who is next? Christian schools? Christian charities?” he asked.
“The message from latest @ChickfilA incident is this: ‘Your church can still teach traditional marriage (which by the way we will still label as a bigoted belief) but don’t you dare repeat it outside of church or we will come after you, your business and/or your job,'” Rubio lamented.
As previously reported, the controversy over Chick-fil-a began in 2012 when owner Dan Cathy told Baptist Press that he is “very much supporting of the family—the biblical definition of the family unit.”
“We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives,” he said. “We give God thanks for that.”
According to the Washington Post, Cathy had also stated on a radio broadcast that he believed that the promotion of homosexual “marriage” was evoking the wrath of God upon America.
Following initial uproar about the matter, including assertions that the company donates to organizations that oppose same-sex “marriage,” Chick-fil-a issued a statement outlining that it had never sought to donate to groups that speak against homosexuality, and that “[g]oing forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”
In a document entitled “Who We Are,” the company also noted that “[t]here are many diverse viewpoints and opinions among those associated with Chick-fil-A,” and that “[i]f someone in Chick-fil-A offers a personal viewpoint, they do not presume to speak for everyone.”
The company also outlined its donor practices, noting that its charitable outreaches are focused in three areas: “Creating educational opportunities for our team members and youth across America,” “Food donations for those serving or those in need,” and “Developing youth and family/marriage enrichment programs and supporting our communities.”
“For many months now, Chick-fil-A’s corporate giving has been mischaracterized,” it stated, referring to the hostility it has received from pro-homosexual groups that have rejected the fast food restaurant by claiming that it gives donations to organizations that oppose same-sex “marriage.”
“Chick-fil-A’s giving heritage is focused on programs that educate youth, strengthen families and enrich marriages, and support communities. We will continue to focus our giving in those areas. … Our intent is not to support political or social agendas,” Chick-fil-A further clarified, noting that the company’s giving has always been focused on positive charities and outreaches, but not necessarily any particular social issue, such as homosexuality.
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