Cracker Barrel saluted Pride Month, and some people are losing it

• Cracker Barrel posted a "Happy Pride Month" salute on social media with a rainbow rocking chair.
• Conservative groups accused Cracker Barrel of going "woke," while supporters defended the chain.
• The post has generated tens of thousands of comments and shares on Facebook.

Supporters are rallying behind Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — and poking fun at its critics — after the restaurant chain posted a salute to Pride Month on social media. The post has sparked outrage from some conservatives.

The restaurant chain posted a photo on its Facebook page Thursday showing a rainbow-themed rocking chair on the porch of a Cracker Barrel restaurant.

The post said: "We are excited to celebrate Pride Month with our employees and guests. Everyone is always welcome at our table (and our rocker). Happy Pride!" The company posted the same message on its Instagram page.

As of Friday afternoon, the Facebook post had generated 36,000 comments and had been shared 25,000 times. Supporters flooded the page with praise and thank-yous, with many users pledging to stop by for a meal.

Facebook user Scarlett Wells wrote: "I've literally avoided Cracker Barrel because I was pretty sure y'all weren't inclusive. That'll change. This is awesome. Also, I need that chair."

Critics also took to social media, with some accusing the restaurant chain of abandoning its values and its customer base and going "woke." One conservative group, Texas Family Project, tweeted: "We take no pleasure in reporting that @CrackerBarrel has fallen. A once family friendly establishment has caved to the mob."

—Texas Family Project (@FamilyProjectTX) June 8, 2023

Others vowed to boycott the chain, including Texas Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson, who tweeted: "BYE BYE CRACKER BARREL! I will NEVER eat there again!!"

—Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) June 9, 2023

Some supporters mocked the outrage. "All these people triggered by a chair is pure comedy gold," Instagram user @phillyd_art wrote.

Some other examples:

—Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) June 9, 2023

—gardenin' borbs 🌾🥕🍅🫑🥒 (@ronninator) June 9, 2023

Cracker Barrel also responded to supporters, saying in one tweet: "Thanks for sharing! Our teams take pride in creating a welcoming, safe atmosphere where people can enjoy time with family and friends the moment they walk through our doors."

—Cracker Barrel (@CrackerBarrel) June 8, 2023

The backlash against Cracker Barrel is the latest in a wave of anti-LGBTQ protests and boycotts against major businesses, including Target, Bud Light, and Disney.

Other businesses, such as Chick-fil-A, have come under fire for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Cracker Barrel also sparked criticism and boycott threats last year when it added vegan sausage to its menu.

The Pride salute marks something of a shift from Cracker Barrel's earlier days. In the early 1990s, the chain came under fire for a policy that barred gay people from being hired. It also was accused of dismissing several gay employees, the New York Times wrote. But in 2019, the company banned an anti-gay pastor from holding an event at a Tennessee restaurant and said it had a "zero-tolerance" policy for discrimination.

The company now has a DEI page on its website with the headline "Everyone Feels at Home."