Donald Perry, Vice President of Corporate Public Relations for Chick-Fil-A, has reportedly passed away this morning in Georgia due to a heart attack. Chick-Fil-A, we assume everyone knows at this point, has been fighting a very public PR battle after COO and president Dan Cathy clarified his company's anti-gay marriage stance, saying the national chicken sandwich purveyor was "guilty as charged" for supporting the "biblical definition of the family unit."
Cathy's comments sparked backlash nationwide. Officials in Chicago moved to block a new Chick-Fil-A branch in their city, the Jim Henson company pulled their toys from the company's kiddie meals, and even San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee had some stern words of warning for the Georgia-based company's expansion in the Bay Area.
On the other hand, fans of waffle fries, peach shakes, and oppressing LGBT couples who would just like to have their love recognized, started an anti-boycott campaign to support the company's anti-civil rights stance. Next Wednesday, August 1st supporters like Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum will reaffirm their Christian values by giving money to the intolerant fast food chain in exchange for chicken strips.
In a statement regarding Perry's death, the company said:
We are saddened to report the news to you that our dear friend Don Perry, vice president of public relations, passed away suddenly this morning.Don was a member of our Chick-fil-A family for nearly 29 years. For many of you in the media, he was the spokesperson for Chick-fil-A. He was a well-respected and well-liked media executive in the Atlanta and University of Georgia communities, and we will all miss him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
