Chick-fil-A is the latest business to be targetted by conservatives for embracing Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) after a screenshot from the fast food restaurant’s website went viral on social media.

“When we are better at together, we are better together. One of our core values at Chick-fil-A, Inc. is that we are better together. When we combine our unique backgrounds and experiences with a culture of belonging, we can discover new ways to strengthen the quality of care we deliver: to customers, to the communities we serve and to the world. We understand that getting Better at Together means we learn better, care better, grow better and serve better. Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s commitment to being Better at Together means embedding Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in everything we do,” a message on their website’s DEI section said.

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The website also included a quote from Erick McReynolds, their Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. “Chick-fil-A restaurants have long been recognized as a place where people know they will be treated well. Modeling care for others starts in the restaurant, and we are committed to ensuring mutual respect, understanding and dignity everywhere we do business. These tenets are good business practice and crucial to fulfilling our Corporate Purpose,” the quote said.

Although Erick McReynolds has been affiliated with Chick-fil-A for years now, Joe Mannarino, a political strategist and former co-host of YourVoice America wrote on Twitter: “We have a problem. Chick-Fil-A just hired a VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This is bad. Very bad. I don’t want to have to boycott. Are we going to have to boycott?”

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His tweet went viral, garnering 1.8 million views at the time of writing this article and sparking several reactions, including those who slammed him for faulting the restaurant for wanting to incorporate DEI in their beliefs as well as conservatives who aligned with his views.

Here are a few reactions:

Who is Erick McReynolds?

According to his bio on LinkedIn, Erick McReynolds, is an “experienced Executive Director with a demonstrated history of working in the restaurant industry.” He is “skilled in Consulting, Operations, Customer Satisfaction, Team Building, Public Speaking, and Management. Strong business development professional with a BS, MBA from Florida A&M University.”

Before becoming the vice president of Chick-fil-A in November 2021, he was the company’s Executive Director of DEI for more than a year. He joined the restaurant chain as its executive director for the Midwest Region in October 2016.

He has also previously worked for Sprint as a senior business analyst and for International Paper as a sales representative.