Chick-fil-A’s Sunday Closure Sparks Controversy

There’s this idea that Chick-fil-A might be, well, kidding itself by being closed on Sundays.

And just to head off any overly kind-hearted folks, let me clarify—CEO Andrew Cathy seems to be the one seeking validation from NBC News, not me.

The more I think about it, the more I feel that Andrew Cathy might have given one of the most cringe-inducing interviews I’ve seen all year, and that’s saying something considering the competition.

Last year, Chick-fil-A generated almost $24 billion in sales in the U.S., a growth of 5.2% compared to 2024. So, things aren’t exactly bleak for the company, and Cathy doesn’t seem like he’s in dire straits. No large-scale layoffs are looming, and the business still seems to be thriving.

So what’s going on? It felt like I was watching a rerun from a decade ago when I saw Cathy being grilled on NBC’s “Today” last week. What could possibly motivate Chick-fil-A’s leader to care about public opinion in 2026? Was this reminiscent of Mitt Romney’s infamous “not part of my campaign” response during the original Chick-fil-A controversies? It is an election year, after all—maybe it’s time to revisit some old hits.

But no, this was just Andrew Cathy, apparently oblivious to the lessons his father, Dan, faced almost fifteen years ago. Since then, many on the right have moved away from Romney’s awkward, performative morality toward something perhaps more direct—think Trump’s blunt tweets. Yet, here was Andrew acting almost submissive. It’s confusing, really. Even R. Lee Ermey’s drill sergeant character would likely be baffled by such uncharacteristic meekness.

How does Cathy not get that this need for approval is outdated? Or maybe he actually prefers the faint approval of a fickle world over steadfast belief. In any case, I would love to know which PR firm is handling Chick-fil-A so I can pass on hiring them to anyone I know in the Christian conservative community.

No one asked for this. Was there a crisis that prompted it? Chick-fil-A went on “Today” of its own accord, essentially allowing itself to be ridiculed by critics who have consistently disapproved of the company.

A wise person once pondered what good it does to gain the whole world but lose your soul. But if you’re not truly following what you hear in church, what’s stopping you from opening the restaurant an extra day? You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself without a reason, would you?

So, you expanded by just 5.2% last year. Perhaps if you had pushed for a healthier growth rate of, say, 6% or 7%, you could’ve avoided this awkward public relations mess. But with such a modest increase, you might start second-guessing when those persistent doubts creep in.

It’s kind of disheartening. The more I think about it, the more I realize how disappointing Andrew Cathy’s actions have been this year, not counting others like Candace, Tucker, or Talarico. It’s frustrating. It’s saddening.

This really feels like a failure to own up: a comfortable so-called “Christian” man publicly knocking on the door of current cultural trends, begging for forgiveness and acceptance. That’s pretty blasphemous. It’s absurd, too, because the redemption Cathy seeks from his detractors will never actually come, making it particularly foolish.

Times may be tough for some customers of Chick-fil-A, but not for Cathy, who willingly put himself through this. What a missed opportunity for a more meaningful message. It’s a shame to see it squandered.