Right-wing Christians have been in a real snit over the past week ever since Chick-fil-A announced that it would be restructuring its charitable giving in a way that focused on hunger, homelessness, and education. That move meant no longer giving money to the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, two faith-based organizations with histories of opposition to marriage equality.
That was coupled with newly public tax documents on Tuesday showing that Chick-fil-A had, in 2017, made a $2,500 donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center. While the SPLC isn’t an anti-Christian group by any means, it has kept record of anti-LGBTQ “hate groups” that include some right-wing Christian organizations that spread lies about homosexuality. (Obviously, being opposed to marriage equality isn’t the issue. It’s not like every evangelical church is on that list.)
With all that in mind, conservatives online decided to wage an all-out culture war against the restaurant chain for betraying Christians.
Take Charlie Kirk, the founder of right-wing group Turning Point USA, who angrily tweeted “Chick-Fil-A betrayed us” after “we stood by them for years during every attack and controversy.”
Chick Fil A betrayed us.
We stood by them for years during every attack and controversy
Despite this they announced they will no longer support Christian organizations
Even worse, it has come out they support the Southern Poverty Law Center!!
No more Chick-Fil-A, ever!
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 27, 2019
Kirk called on fellow conservatives to boycott the company. His former Turning Point colleague Benny Johnson echoed his rhetoric:
This is true, when you eat at @ChickfilA your dollars support abortion and leftist hate:https://t.co/o2gIjVrm3m
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 27, 2019
But as Raw Story notes, the hypocrisy was obvious:
… while many conservatives replied to Kirk to support his angst over the ideological heresies of a fast-food chain, many other followers responded by mocking the right-wing activist for being a “snowflake” who is trying to “cancel” a private business over political differences.
People online were quick to point that out. Hilarity ensued:
Sucker. They used you to get rich and threw you away to get richer. You gave them millions of dollars in free advertising and profits and in return they kicked you in the teeth because you embarrassed them before their European customers. https://t.co/xY476ZAorb
— Susan of Texas (@SusanofTexas) November 27, 2019
Hope you're wearing that diaper. Hard day for you.
— Thor Benson (@thor_benson) November 27, 2019
Charlie, I support your work, but chill out. Now everyone is free to spend their dollars wherever they want, but I don't agree with this boycott/cancel culture mentality.
Plus, on what basis do you say they are no longer supporting Christian orgs? What's the source of this info?— Trent Snowbarger (@TrentSnowbarger) November 27, 2019
Awww! Does ooo need a safe space, li'l baby? pic.twitter.com/5LNm97S4ZW
— Harry, the guy with a snake on his face (@Harrytheguywit1) November 27, 2019
Thank God I can finally eat there now that they’ve decided to stop hatin’ on gays!
Too bad guys like Charlie @charliekirk11 are so easily triggered at the idea of inclusiveness.
Gotta get me one of those frozen lemonade thingys!
— Eric Lunde (@ejlundegaard) November 27, 2019
It's a chicken sandwich joint…
Also, don't ever write the phrase, "Chick Fil A betrayed us," and expect yourself to be taken seriously…
But here's a pro-tip, anyway:
Put not ye faith in giant, multi-million dollar fast-food chains.
— Joe Townsend (@Jtownsend95) November 27, 2019
You can’t mock the left for boycotting chick fil a over disagreements and then later do the exact same thing. Plus, the chicken is too tasty.
— Allison Hoyle (@alleyhoyle) November 27, 2019
Triggered, #Chuckles? ❄️❄️❄️
They’ll really miss your business.— Marc Piszkiewicz (@mpiszkie) November 27, 2019
It’s telling that conservatives are angry at a chicken restaurant for deciding to donate to the poorest among us, while chipping in a little bit toward a group aimed at exposing hate. Those ideals are apparently antithetical to their own beliefs.
They’re not the only ones. Tony Perkins said the Family Research Council (a hate group, according to SPLC) would no longer do business with Chick-fil-A. Bryan Fischer said the chain had “sold out” Christians.
Sometimes, they do our work for us.
(Featured image via Shutterstock)
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