D.L. Hughley Ends Love Affair With Chick-fil-A Over Anti-Gay Marriage Stance

Comedian ends his longtime affair with his favorite chicken eatery after its president comes out against gay marriage

By Josh Grossberg Aug 10, 2012 4:53 PMTags
D.L. HughleyJesse Grant/Getty Images

D.L. Hughley is calling it quits with Chick-fil-A.

The funnyman penned an open letter on The Huffington Post confirming the breakup, saying he and his favorite fast food chain were "growing in two different directions," mainly on account of Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy's open declaration against marriage equality.

Talk about irreconcilable differences.

Hughley confessed that the moment he met Chick-fil-A at the Atlanta airport "it was truly love at first bite" and a relationship began that eventually extended to various Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country.

But after Cathy professed last month to the Baptist Press that his company was "guilty as charged" when it came to running the business on biblical values, which includes supporting only marriage between man and a woman (and in turn antigay initiatives), Hughley said he felt forced to "choose between my heart and my stomach."

"But baby, lately you've been doing me dirty. You've been speaking with a forked tongue, spewing hate instead of frying love," the comedian deadpanned. "Who would have thought a chicken sandwich would become a symbol for both free speech and intolerance at the same time?"

While supporting the right for Chick-fil-A's boss to believe and vote however he pleases, Hughley lamented Cathy's decision to not only take a public stance on the issue of gay marriage, but selectively choosing Bible verses to make his point.

"You say that gay marriage is a sin, like in Leviticus 19:22. But a preceding verse, Leviticus 17:14, says, 'You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off,'' the actor pointed out. "You don't cook your chicken in a kosher way. On what grounds are you picking and choosing which edicts to follow?"

He added: "But like the Good Book says, we need sanctuaries in this world, places where a man can go to escape his thoughts. That used to be you. Now I have to wonder if I'm doing the right thing when I step inside your doors, if I am subsidizing perspectives that I am vehemently opposed to. Ignorance is bliss, girl, especially in your industry."

Hughley concluded by noting it was Chick-fil-A that changed, not him.

"So Chick-fil-A, baby, I guess what I'm struggling to say, as I fight back the tears and wipe the grease from my fingers, is this. It's not that I don't love you; we both know that's not true. I know I'll never find another like you. But baby, we are growing in two different directions. I'm afraid I won't be able to see you anymore," he said.

Hughley's not the only celebrity refusing to "Eat More Chikin," as the chain's advertising slogan goes. The Office star Ed Helms and Mia Farrow also expressed disappointment at the company's opposition to same-sex unions.

Hey D.L., there's always Col. Sanders!