TUCSON (Tucson News Now) - An executive with a medical equipment company is out of a job after he recorded a rant to a Chick-Fil-A employee at the drive-through window.
Vante says they have fired CFO/Treasurer Adam Smith, after a YouTube video of the confrontation went viral. Chick-Fil-A has faced criticism from gay rights groups and others after its president took a stand for the Biblical view of marriage as one man and one woman.
The video shows a man identified as Smith pulling up to the window for a free cup of water.
"You know why I'm getting the free water, right?" he says to the drive-through employee. "Because Chick-Fil-A is a hateful corporation."
"I disagree," the worker begins to reply. "We don't treat any of our customers differently."
"I know, but the corporation gives money to hate groups, just because people want to kiss another guy."
The video appears to have been made during "Chick-Fil-A Day," a grassroots show of support for the company on Wednesday that brought thousands of people to its restaurants in Tucson and across the nation.
"I have to stay neutral on this subject," the worker says. "My personal beliefs won't be in the workplace."
"I believe that too," the man continues. "I don't believe corporations should be giving money to hate groups."
The worker says she's uncomfortable about man recording the conversation before he takes his water.
"I don't know how you live with yourself and work here," he says before pulling away. "This is a horrible corporation with horrible values. You deserve better."
The man says he is "totally heterosexual" but he "can't stand the hate."
Vante released a statement Thursday saying: "The actions of Mr. Smith do not reflect our corporate values in any manner. Vante is an equal opportunity company with a diverse workforce, which holds diverse opinions. We respect the right of our employees and all Americans to hold and express their personal opinions, however, we also expect our company officers to behave in a manner commensurate with their position and in a respectful fashion that conveys these values of civility with others."
Copyright 2012 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.
A snip of the man heard in the controversial video (Source: YouTube)
