--- title: "Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy declines to comment on LGBTQ+ rights" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/chick-fil-a-ceo-andrew-cathy-declines-to-comment-on-lgbtq-rights" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/chick-fil-a-ceo-andrew-cathy-declines-to-comment-on-lgbtq-rights" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/chick-fil-a-ceo-andrew-cathy-declines-to-comment-on-lgbtq-rights.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/chick-fil-a-ceo-andrew-cathy-declines-to-comment-on-lgbtq-rights" category: "Politics" published: "2026-10-14T18:25:45.956Z" source_reported: "2026-10-14T17:59:50.000Z" updated: "2026-10-14T18:25:45.956Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-14T19:30:22.237960+00:00" --- # Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy declines to comment on LGBTQ+ rights *CEO Andrew Cathy stated everyone is welcome at the company's restaurants but did not directly address LGBTQ+ rights.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to a named body, and two independent outlets are cited. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. The reporting includes quotes from affected parties and explains why the story matters. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. The headline promises an interview, and the body delivers on that promise. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy stated that everyone is welcome at the company's restaurants. - Cathy declined to directly comment on LGBTQ+ rights when asked by interviewer Craig Melvin. - In 2012, Andrew Cathy's father, Dan Cathy, publicly stated the company was against same-sex marriage. - Chick-fil-A reported nearly $24 billion in sales last year and remains a family-owned company. Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy stated that everyone is welcome at the company's restaurants. When asked by Craig Melvin on the "Today" show about the company's stance on LGBTQ+ rights, Cathy did not directly address the issue. He reiterated that the company is focused on hospitality and serving all customers. This interview follows past controversy surrounding the company's charitable donations. In 2012, Andrew Cathy's father, Dan Cathy, publicly stated the company was against same-sex marriage. In 2019, Chick-fil-A announced it would no longer fund organizations perceived as anti-LGBTQ+, shifting its focus to education, homelessness, and hunger initiatives. ## Disagreement on interview framing NewsBusters described the interview as NBC "slamm[ing]" Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy over his family's backing of conservative causes, stating that Craig Melvin spent "just over 90 seconds harassing him over his family’s Christian roots." The Independent's headline stated that the CEO "dodges question on company’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights." ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific amounts Chick-fil-A donated to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or the Salvation Army in 2019, details present in The Independent's full report. None of the right-rated digests mention the company's 2019 announcement to focus its giving on education, homelessness, and hunger. ## Who covered it Shares of the 15 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 87% (13) - Centre: 6% (1) - Right: 7% (1) 1 of 16 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-14T19:30:22.237960+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-14T19:45:14.039Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy's refusal to directly address LGBTQ+ rights. Multiple reports highlighted the contrast with his father, Dan Cathy, who publicly opposed same-sex marriage in 2012. The reports noted the company's 2019 shift away from funding anti-LGBTQ+ organizations. Several digests from NBC outlets used the same headline, "Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said." ### Centre - The centre-rated report from NBC Chicago also focused on Andrew Cathy's response to questions about LGBTQ+ rights. It noted that the company had faced criticism in the past over donations to conservative groups. The report stated that Cathy was asked about the company's official position on equal rights and responded by focusing on hospitality and service. ### Right - The right-rated report from NewsBusters framed the interview as NBC "slamm[ing]" the Chick-fil-A CEO over his family's Christian background and support for conservative causes. The digest stated that interviewer Craig Melvin "harass[ed] him over his family’s Christian roots." **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 1 - high: 1 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 12 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/us/money/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-donations-b3066888.html) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO dodges question on company’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/us/money/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-donations-b3066888.html) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO dodges question on company’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights - [NewsBusters](https://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/curtis-houck/2026/10/14/anti-equal-rights-nbc-slams-chick-fil-ceo-over-family-backing) — Anti-‘Equal Rights’; NBC SLAMS Chick-fil-A CEO Over Family Backing ‘Conservative Causes’ - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/98d059fde5a87983) — Chick-fil-A CEO Talks Portion Sizes, Prices, Staying Family-Owned - [NBC News](https://nbcnews.com/business/ceo-interviews/chick-fil-a-ceo-andrew-cathy-restaurant-rcna603203) — Chick-fil-A bet on chicken 60 years ago. Now it’s America’s third largest restaurant chain - [NBC Boston](https://nbcboston.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/4030850) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC Connecticut](https://nbcconnecticut.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/3784782) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC Miami](https://nbcmiami.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/3872679) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC New York](https://nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/6559184) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC Philadelphia](https://nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/4479328) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC Washington](https://nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/4167231) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC Chicago](https://nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/4002313) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC Dallas-Fort Worth](https://nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/4090785) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC LA](https://nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/3956007) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC Bay Area](https://nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/4157805) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said - [NBC San Diego](https://nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/chick-fil-a-ceo-lgbtq-rights-statement-position/4086831) — Chick-fil-A’s CEO was asked about his company’s position on LGBTQ rights. This is what he said ## Questions **What did Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy say about LGBTQ+ rights?** Andrew Cathy stated that everyone is welcome at Chick-fil-A restaurants and that the company is focused on hospitality and serving great food. However, he declined to directly comment on the company's stance on LGBTQ+ rights when asked by interviewer Craig Melvin. **What is Chick-fil-A's past connection to LGBTQ+ issues?** In 2012, Andrew Cathy's father, Dan Cathy, publicly stated the company was against same-sex marriage. Chick-fil-A's foundation also made donations to organizations seen as anti-LGBTQ+. In 2019, the company announced it would stop funding such groups and focus on other charitable areas. **How much did Chick-fil-A make last year?** Chick-fil-A reported nearly $24 billion in sales last year. The company remains family-owned and has expanded its operations to countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/chick-fil-a-ceo-andrew-cathy-declines-to-comment-on-lgbtq-rights. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy declines to comment on LGBTQ+ rights", https://mediabias.news/politics/chick-fil-a-ceo-andrew-cathy-declines-to-comment-on-lgbtq-rights