Some people were apparently surprised to see Cracker Barrel sharing celebratory Pride Month messaging. Alongside a picture of a rocking chair painted in rainbow colors, the Tennessee-based company wrote on its Facebook account Thursday that the chain is “excited to celebrate Pride Month with our employees and guests,” adding that “everyone is always welcome at our table.” Some were clearly not impressed to see the inclusive tone coming from a company once known for firing gay employees in the early 1990s under a protested policy of pushing “heterosexual values.” “We take no pleasure in reporting that @CrackerBarrel has fallen,” the Texas Family Project tweeted. “A once family friendly establishment has caved to the mob.” Other angry posts asked Cracker Barrel “why do you hate your patrons” or demanded that the company “cut this crap out.”
We take no pleasure in reporting that @CrackerBarrel has fallen.
— Texas Family Project (@FamilyProjectTX) June 8, 2023
Cracker Barrel, why do you hate your patrons? 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.
— Shelby Foote Appreciator⚓️ (@NoJesuitTricks) June 9, 2023
Cut this crap out @CrackerBarrel the money you will lose from your actual customer base that is tired of this shit is greater than the miniscule amount you make when gay people take their grandparents to cracker barrel to awkwardly avoid the subject of what's wrong with em. pic.twitter.com/2A7Fo0cAyZ
— 🏛 Aristophanes 🏛 (@Aristos_Revenge) June 9, 2023
I used to be proud to tell people that Cracker Barrel not only has it's corporate HQ in my hometown, but was home to the original location.