Chick-Fil-A Controversy Continues, Replacement Berenstain Bears Cause Berenstains To Distance Brand From Company
Chick-Fil-A has secured a replacement toy for the kids’ meal toys yanked earlier this month by the Muppets after the ongoing gay marriage controversy came to a head, but the family behind the iconic Berenstain Bears brand has distanced itself from the lightning rod chicken slinger after it came in for heat from groups and individuals that support gay rights.
The Berenstain Bears would seem to be a natural fit for the chain that purports to espouse “Christian values” (while apparently lying about why Muppets toys were pulled from their restaurants to cast blame on a company that ceased doing business with them due to a moral diagreement), but even the Berenstain Bears want little to do with Chick-Fil-A publicly as Americans across the country weigh in on the company’s habit of giving millions of dollars to groups that work to fight equal rights for gay people and send gay teens to “conversion” camps.
As the controversy over Chick-Fil-A’s stated position on gay marriage as well as its donations through WinShape rages, the Berenstain family has released a statement about the decision to include branded toys in Chick-Fil-A kids’ meals. The family says that while the toys are available in lieu of Muppets toys, the family does not have a say over the licensing.
A statement posted on their website and cross-posted to Facebook reads:
“Our publisher, HarperCollins, is marketing several of their Berenstain Bears titles through a kids’ meal promotion at Chick-Fil-A scheduled for August. This program was in development for over a year. We were unaware of any controversy involving Chick-Fil-A until July 25th.”
It continues:
“The Berenstain family does not at this time have control over whether this program proceeds or not. We hope those concerned about this issue will direct their comments toward HarperCollins and Chick-Fil-A.”
“When u have the Muppets & Berenstain Bears against you Chick-fil-A it should tell you something” bit.ly/ODss5e
@back2stonewall— Steven W. Thrasher (@steven_thrasher) July 30, 2012
Ironically, the Berenstain Bears toys available at Chick-Fil-A trumpet the “golden rule,” you know, about doing unto others. Which, one might assume, includes not teaching them that who they are is an abomination in God’s eyes and then giving money to people who want to deny them rights and make it so they can’t get married.
