The Muppets Creators Divorce Chick-Fil-A Over Gay Rights

The Jim Henson Company, creators of The Muppets, announced today on their Facebook page that they have terminated their business relationship with fast food chain Chick-Fil-A, following an inflammatory interview published with the company's president and recent revelations about the extent to which the company supports anti-gay organizations. The statement indicates that the final residual check Henson receives from Chick-Fil-A will be donated to a pro-gay charity. The chain had previously distributed Henson's Creature Shop toys in their children's meals. "The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors," read the statement. "Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD." GLAAD is the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, one of the country's largest and most vocal groups supporting equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. An interview with The Baptist Press earlier this month saw Chick-Fil-A president Dan McCarthy speaking out in favor of what the company calls "traditional marriage, saying that support for gay marriage is "inviting God's judgment on our nation." He added, "I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about." That interview came on the heels of revelations that the company--which has always been involved with evangelical organizations and has long held a quietly anti-gay stance--donated nearly $2 million to anti-gay nonprofit groups in 2009.