Chik Fil A's Response To Anti-Gay Stance Triggers Online Uproar

Chik-Fil-A Company President Dan Cathy made comments against gay marriage in an exclusive interview.

The controversial remarks has sparked an online uproar from consumers and Hollywood going against and in support of the fast food chain.

One Hollywood star tweeted he would no longer support Chik-Fil-A. Actor Ed Helms who stars in "The Office" and plays a dentist in "The Hangover" films, tweeted: 

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"Chick-fil-A doesn't like gay people? So lame. Hate to think what they do to the gay chickens! Lost a loyal fan." 

Food Network and "Iron Chef" star Michael Symon tweeted: "remind me to never eat at chick fil a ever again."

In an interview with Baptist Press, Cathy was asked if his company supported the traditional family unit:

"Well, guilty as charged," he replied. "We are very much supportive 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. We give God thanks for that," he added.

Cathy later replied to a tweet from someone commending him for the comments after the article came out on Monday, saying: "BP article really lit up LGBT community!"

According to the Christian Post, Cathy went further during an interview on "The Ken Coleman Show," saying, "I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.' "

Cathy was also quoted as saying during the interview: "I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about." 

Since the article came out, Chik-Fil-A customers have posted messages online either for or against the company's Christian values according to several reports.

Chick-fil-A spokesman Don Perry emailed a prepared statement to the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Wednesday evening when they inquired about the company's position, accordng to Christian Post.

"The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of belief, creed and sexual orientation," the statement said. "We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena."

Dan Cathy oversees one of the country's most successful businesses. As President and Chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, Cathy leads a business with 1,608 restaurants that had sales of more than $4 billion dollars last year, according to Baptist Press.

In 1967, Cathy's father S. Truett Cathy opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta. Today, Chick-fil-A is the second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States based on annual system-wide sales.

Chick-fil-A has more than 1,600 restaurants in 39 states and Washington, D.C. and will open 77 stand-alone restaurants and 15 licensee locations in 2012, according to their website.