Several co-hosts of "The View" defended Chick-Fil-A after Chicago and Boston moved to block the chain from opening new locations.
On Wednesday, a Chicago alderman announced his intention to prevent the chain from building a restaurant in his ward because of the company president's opposition to gay marriage. Chick-Fil-A donated nearly $2 million to anti-gay marriage groups in 2010.
Hasselbeck, who is a vocal supporter of gay marriage, objected to the government's involvement in what she said was a private matter. "As citizens, if you don't like something... you don't have to buy anything there," she argued. "I don't believe that public officials should be banning companies based on the owners' personal opinions."
Joy Behar asked what if a company was donating to the Ku Klux Klan. Hasselbeck reiterated that private citizens could choose not to support the business. Chick-Fil-A "would go bankrupt if no one wanted to buy their chicken," she said.
Sherri Shepherd added that Chick-Fil-A's stance was based on the management's Christian values, and a ban would violate freedom of religion.
Whoopi Goldberg said she wasn't surprised that people opposed Chick-Fil-A's expansion, but also defended the chain's right to its stance. "We're in America where everyone has the right to say 'I don't believe this,'" she said. "You don't like what they're doing, don't go. But do not step on their right to have an opinion. This is still America."
Related
Before You Go
