Conservatives are calling out Chick-fil-A after the company’s statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) resurfaced Tuesday.
Conservative social media personalities drew attention to a statement on Chick-fil-A’s website which outlined the company’s DEI program and highlighted its employment of Erick McReynolds, the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion since 2021. According to the statement, Chick-fil-A aims to ensure equal opportunity, “eliminate barriers so all can thrive” and foster a “culture of belonging.”(RELATED: Chick-Fil-A Planning Expansion To Markets In Europe, Asia)
“Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s commitment to being Better at Together means embedding Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in everything we do,” the website reads.
The website also states that Chick-fil-A holds a Diversity Recruitment Program, and partners with organizations such as the National Black MBA Association, and the Association of Latino Professionals of America. For employees, the company provides “Community Groups” such as the Black Employee Resource Group, the Young Professionals Group and the Green Team, according to the statement.
Chick-fil-A has gone woke. https://t.co/e8DuZPSimS
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 30, 2023
The resurfaced DEI statement drew sharp criticism from conservatives, with political commentator Ian Miles Cheong accusing the company of having “gone woke.”
“[P]eople are finally realizing how fully our culture has been overtaken,” political commentator Savannah Hernandez tweeted.
“Even our beloved Chick-fil-A has fallen to the DEI cult (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion); the same agenda that is turning our beloved military woke,” Republican Texas Congressional candidate Caroline Kane tweeted.
Chick-fil-A, long aligned with conservatives, publicly supported Biblical values such as an opposition to same-sex marriage. The company sparked pushback from conservatives in 2019 when they stopped donating to the Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian Athletes due to their stances on LGBT issues.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in conservative states such as Texas and Florida have passed legislation to ban or limit DEI practices in higher education or corporations.