Kanye West accused of ‘anti-LGBT stance’ after new gospel-themed song praising Chick-Fil-A
Kanye West at the 2019 Met Gala in New York (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC/Getty)
Kanye West pays tribute to the notoriously anti-LGBT+ fast food chain Chick-Fil-A in a forthcoming new song ‘Closed on Sundays’.
The song is set to be released on his new gospel-inspired album Jesus is King: A Kanye West Experience. Part of the lyrics were posted online after a listening party where West was promoting the album.
The chorus strongly references Chick-Fil-A, the second largest chicken fast food restaurant in the US, which closes on Sunday for religious reasons.
Closed on Sunday, you my Chick-Fil-A
Closed on Sunday, you my Chick-Fil-A
Hold the selfies, put the ’Gram away
Get your family, y’all hold hands and pray
When you got daughters, always keep ’em safe
Watch out for vipers, don’t let them indoctrinate
Closed on Sunday, you my Chick-Fil-A
This ain’t game day, get your house in shape
Train your sons, raise them in the faith
To temptations, make sure they’re wide awake
Follow Jesus, listen and obey
No more livin’ for the culture, we nobody’s slave
Chick-Fil-A has frequently come under fire for its controversial stance on LGBT+ rights.
The Baptist-owned family company has donated millions of dollars to anti-gay groups including the Family Research Council, Exodus International and Focus on the Family.
Chick-Fil-A owner Dan Cathy has openly admitted that the company is opposed to same-sex marriage. In 2014 he said that he regretted these comments, but continued quietly bankrolling anti-gay groups, even after promising not to.
In the face of numerous pushbacks and boycotts, the fast-food chain has since taken great strides to downplay its anti-LGBT+ attitude, but has been unable to shed the ‘homophobic’ reputation.
Several couples gathered to kiss in support of a National Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A held across the country in response to Chick-fil-A’s stance on gay marriage. (Tom Pennington/Getty)
This raises questions about West’s repeated praise of Chick-Fil-A in his song, particularly as it comes at such a critical time for the LGBT+ community.
“Kanye’s lyrics here are an anti-LGBTQ stance with strategic timing,” said Dana White, a director of Collective Action for Safe Spaces in a statement reported by the New York Daily News.
“We’re clear on where Chick-fil-A stands and where they put their money when it comes to the human and civil rights of LGBTQ+ folks. We’re clear that the Trump administration is currently targeting LGBTQ+ folks.”
Alternatively, the song could be nothing more than a reference to Kanye’s well-documented love of fast foods. But this seems unlikely, given the overall album’s strong themes of faith and religion.
