Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy emphasizes welcoming atmosphere amid past LGBTQ+ controversy
CEO Andrew Cathy said Chick-fil-A aims to serve all customers without commenting on past LGBTQ+ disputes, while noting the chain’s strong sales performance.
Chick-fil-A reported nearly $24 billion in sales last year and ranked third on USA TODAY’s 2026 list of top fast-food restaurants. In a recent interview with Today co-host Craig Melvin, CEO Andrew Cathy said the company welcomes anyone who walks through its doors and encourages new customers to try its food and hospitality.
Cathy declined to address the chain’s earlier controversies over LGBTQ+ issues, stating, "> We’re focused on serving everybody that comes in and eats with us." When asked about past protests and boycotts, he reiterated the invitation to all patrons without directly discussing the company’s historical stance.
The interview referenced earlier donations by the Chick-fil-A Foundation to groups that opposed gay marriage, including more than $1.6 million to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and $150,000 to the Salvation Army, as reported in 2019. The foundation later announced it would cease funding those organizations and shift its giving toward education, homelessness and hunger initiatives.
Cathy also highlighted the chain’s long-standing practice of closing on Sundays, describing it as part of the corporate purpose to “glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that’s entrusted to us, and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”