Some customers are slamming Cracker Barrel’s Pride message that says “everyone is always welcome at our table.”
“We are excited to celebrate Pride Month with our employees and guests,” the Tennessee-headquartered restaurant chain wrote Thursday on social media alongside the picture of a rainbow-colored rocking chair.
Hundreds of comments applauding Cracker Barrel’s “surprising and fantastic news” quickly filled the company’s Facebook timeline, with some customers thanking the popular country-style eatery for “your love, acceptance and affirming ALL human beings.”
But the message also sparked outrage and anger among some of its conservative customers, who appear to feel betrayed by the restaurant chain’s inclusive message.
It appears the company has “caved to the mob,” the conservative group Texas Family Project wrote on Twitter.
The group, whose mission is to fight against the left’s efforts to “dismantle the traditional family as we know it,” slammed the “once family friendly establishment” for its message of inclusion.
Cracker Barrel, which today has more than 650 locations across the U.S., made national headlines in the early ‘90s over its blatant anti-LGBTQ hiring policies.
Some other customers took the company’s message of acceptance as a personal attack.
“We take no pleasure in reporting that @CrackerBarrel has fallen,” the group tweeted.
“Cracker Barrel, why do you hate your patrons?” Twitter user Shelby Foote Appreciator wrote. “How did you come to despise your consumer base? You have lost your mind if you think the thousands of people who drive out of their way to eat your middling food want this,” the person added. “Never again.”
Other customers took the opportunity to “finally … say that their southern food is overrated and mediocre;” criticize its “now-abominable food;” its “weak sauce;” and its “exaggerated Southern cuisine.”
“It’s finally ok to say that their southern food is overrated and mediocre,” Twitter user Joshua Abbotoy summed it up.