Logo Controversy Escalates With Trump’s Involvement: U.S. Restaurant Removes Diversity Page

Deletion of LGBTQ+ and DEI Pages
Conservative Influencers Declare "Complete Victory"

Cracker Barrel, a U.S. restaurant chain, has not only withdrawn its recently controversial logo change but has also deleted the "Pride page" from its website. Analysts say these actions are in response to pressure from conservative groups.

The logo that Cracker Barrel had planned to change. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to CNN on August 28 (local time), Cracker Barrel, headquartered in Tennessee, recently removed a webpage that introduced resource groups related to LGBTQ+ and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Cracker Barrel had sponsored the 2024 Nashville Pride Parade and, in celebration of Pride Month, released a line of rainbow-colored rocking chairs. The company also operated support groups for LGBT businesses, veterans, and other community organizations.

The deleted Pride page had featured the message, "We celebrate you for who you are," but the URL now redirects to a "Culture and Belonging" page, with all related content removed.

A Cracker Barrel representative explained to CNN that the removal was "part of a brand renewal process to eliminate outdated content." The representative added, "We have also changed the way we operate business resource groups, focusing all sponsorships and events on social contribution activities," and explained that the company is now prioritizing food insecurity relief, community support, and food waste reduction.

Following Logo Controversy, 'Pride Page' Also Deleted

An anti-DEI influencer Robby Starbuck's social media post after the Pride page was deleted. Robby Starbuck X

This change to the website came shortly after Cracker Barrel revealed a new logo last week, which sparked fierce backlash from conservative influencers. Even former President Trump joined in, amplifying calls for the company to revert to its original logo, and ultimately the company announced it would keep the old logo.

However, even after announcing it would not proceed with the rebranding, anti-DEI influencer Robby Starbuck posted a screenshot of Cracker Barrel's "Pride page" on his social media, triggering another wave of controversy. He claimed, "Cracker Barrel is still proudly running LGBTQ+ and DEI pages on its website," and called for a boycott. After the page was deleted, he declared it a "complete victory."

Meanwhile, Cracker Barrel has struggled to recover sales since the COVID-19 pandemic, and its stock price has fallen by more than half over the past five years. Although the stock briefly rose following the announcement that the rebranding would be withdrawn, it soon resumed its downward trend.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.