CEO's first broadcast interview

Andrew Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, sat down with the Today show's Craig Melvin for his first-ever broadcast interview on October 14, 2026.

Melvin asks about boycotts

When Melvin asked how Cathy feels about those who have boycotted the restaurant, Cathy responded by inviting them to try the chain's food and hospitality.

“Well, for anybody that hasn't tried us, we'd love for you to come try and have our great-tasting food and the hospitality that we're known for.”

Pressed on company history

Melvin pressed Cathy on the issue, asking if he wanted to discuss that chapter in Chick-fil-A's history, but Cathy repeated his focus on serving customers.

“You don't want to talk about that chapter in Chick-fil-A's history?”

Asked about official position

When Melvin directly asked what the company's official position on equal rights is, Cathy said the brand is focused on hospitality and serving great food and service.

“The company's official position on equal rights is?”

Years of LGBTQ+ controversy

The interview comes after years of controversy over the CEO's alleged anti-LGBTQ+ stance and the company's past donations to organizations opposing LGBTQ+ rights.

Father's 2012 statement

In 2012, it was reported that Cathy's father Dan Cathy, who previously ran the company, had publicly stated that Chick-fil-A opposed gay marriage.

Company donations documented

Public documents showed the company had donated millions to organizations that stood against LGBTQ+ rights, fueling the long-running controversy.

Celebrity reaction on social media

After the interview aired on Wednesday, celebrities took to social media to express frustration over how Cathy seemed to avoid giving direct answers.

Valerie Bertinelli responds

Actress Valerie Bertinelli commented on Today's post about the interview, saying she has never tried the company's food and has no plans to change that.

“I have never tried the company's food and have no plans to change that.”

Chelsea Handler and Katie Couric weigh in

Comedian Chelsea Handler wrote no thank you under the interview clip. Katie Couric suggested Melvin should have asked if Cathy agrees with his father's 2012 statement.

“This is what his father Dan Cathy said in 2012: 'We are very much supportive of the family, the biblical definition.'”

Couric's suggested follow-up

Couric pointed to Dan Cathy's exact 2012 quote about supporting the biblical definition of family and suggested asking if Andrew Cathy agrees with his father.

“A good follow-up would have been: 'Do you agree with [your] father?'”

More scrutiny expected

Given calls for boycotts since 2012, the new interview is already ruffling feathers and likely to lend itself to even more scrutiny of the company.