Chick-fil-A McDonald's, Wendy's and KFC Support Signs Go Viral on Web
A viral image circulating social media websites shows several American fast food restaurants, such as Kentucky Friend Chicken, Wendy's and McDonald's, demonstrating their support for Christian-owned Chick-fil-A on marquee signs in front of their stores. But are the images real?
Some online users are calling the signs fakes, arguing that they were made using the online Fast Food Sign Generator website.
One image circulating on the web shows Wendy's, McDonald's, and Kentucky Fried Chicken demonstrating support for the Georgia-based southern fried chicken fast food chain, whose CEO Dan Cathy came out in early July in support of traditional marriage.
The Wendy's sign circulating the Internet reads: "Jesus is God and we support Chick-fil-A." This sign's validity has been affirmed by the franchise's CEO, Jim Furman.
As The Huffington Post reported, online community website Reddit posted several photos on Wednesday, dubbed "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," of Wendy's franchises in the Carolinas voicing their support for Chick-fil-A using their marquees.
Another photo of a Wendy's franchise's marquee reads: "We Stand With Chick-fil-A."
Jim Furman, CEO of Wendy's franchise Tar Heel Capital in the Carolinas, told local news channel WBTV-TV that they chose to post the message on the marquees for a short time to make their statement, and then removed the message because they "felt it was time to go back to their marketing message."
Two other marquees circulating the web include one from Kentucky Fried Chicken, which reads: "We support Chick-fil-A and their Christian beliefs;" another from a McDonald's franchise which reads: "We support Chick-fil-A now try to boycott us."
Although Wendy's support for Chick-fil-A was confirmed by Furman, the validity of these other two signs is being questioned online.
The political website Twitchy has called the signs a "hoax," and several Twitter users have also claimed that the images are fake.
"Though the KFC and McDonald's signs support Chick-fil-A are fun, they are also fake," tweeted Michael Linton.
"Photograph purportedly shows a McDonald's sign expressing support for Chick-fil-A. It's fake!" tweeted Kristen Doerschner.
Neither McDonald's nor KFC have come out to officially support Chick-fil-A.
Chick-fil-A has been in the media spotlight since Cathy, an evangelical Christian, said in an interview with the Biblical Reporter that he and his company support traditional marriage and are against the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Since the interview, gay activists have vowed to boycott Chick-fil-A, while others continue to support the company.
Wednesday was made "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," and the company claims to have set a new sales record due to Ameicans turning out to purchase their sandwiches and trademark waffle fries.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLADD) group is promoting Friday, Aug. 3 as "National Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A," inviting all homosexual couples who support same-sex marriage to kiss in their local Chick-fil-A franchise.