Those beloved children’s-book anthromorphs the Berenstain Family are sidestepping the controversy surrounding Chick-fil-A.
On their website, the furry family explained that the Berenstain Bears books being given away with kid’s meals at the fast-food chain next month shouldn’t be construed as any kind of endorsement of the company’s anti-equality policies. Sort of.
Our publisher, HarperCollins, is marketing several of their Berenstain Bears titles through a kids’ meal promotion at Chick-Fil-A scheduled for August. This program was in development for over a year. We were unaware of any controversy involving Chick-Fil-A until July 25th.
The Berenstain family does not at this time have control over whether this program proceeds or not. We hope those concerned about this issue will direct their comments toward HarperCollins and Chick-Fil-A.
Well, it’s more of an ass-saving measure than a stand against intolerance, but anything that gives Chick-fil-A a black eye is a plus in our book.
Yesterday, the above note was accompanied by a message from HarperCollins that read: “We have a long history of diversity and inclusiveness and are very disappointed to hear recent statements made by Chick-fil-A. After much consideration, we have decided to honor our previous arrangement, with the chain. We have no plans to work with them in the future.”
But by Tuesday, the HarperCollins statement was removed. NBC News reports it was told the comment was “an unauthorized statement.”
Chance
Harper Collins should do what the Jim Henson company did and give the proceeds of this deal to a gay rights charity/equality organization or something.
Scott
Its publishing- there are no profits anymore.
skeloric
just getting people to read a REAL book rather than some digital copy is hard enough.
As a publisher, they are more worried that people will stop reading actual physical books which really hurts their profit line.
A publisher is only important if one plans to PUBLISH.
Just making the book available digitally requires no publisher at all.
In all of this, Harper Collins is DESPERATE.
They need people reading their physical copies of books.
They also cannot renege on a contract.
They also cannot afford to anger the GLBT community.
They are almost certainly doomed.
Chance
If the publisher is willing to move forward with time and technology, they do not need people to read physical books. Many publishers also make available e-books, which they can charge the same price for as physical books, but without the cost of the physical components/materials, and therefore get a higher profit margin.
DanChi
I give the Berenstain Bears group credit for at least acknowledging an issue instead of not doing anything and just proceeding. In my eyes, this means that working with chick-fil-a is a very negative thing and not good. That means the bad publicity is working.
tim b
Good for the Berernstain Bears people (and when did those stop being Random House titles?).
I don’t suppose HarperCollins really had a choice if the contract was already signed, but it’s worth noting that it’s part of the Rupert Murdoch empire.
JayHobeSound
The bears better behave or else some repressed self-described ‘pastor’ will accuse the bears of sodomy and then suggest cannibalizing the bears, deep frying them and onto the menu they go.
Charles
I have actually gotten messages on Facebook from work friends defending Chickfila and it pissed me off….. We as Gay citizens pay more taxes, have endured police raids in the past and who can forget the genocide we endured while waiting for the country to address HIV in the early 1980’s? It is beyond time to get hot fire mad and stand up!!!!! I volunteer to put on festivals, my family donates money to cure cancer and I give the best gifts when my straight friends get married or have kids, so what is the big deal straight America with the Gay community wanting to be treated as equals? Damn haven’t we done enough to prove to you we don’t damage families, you do with your drunk fathers, slutty mothers who never stay home and party on those “girls” weekends or better yet those of you who leave your kids with grandmothers to raise……….you f*ckers make me sick!!!!!!
HenryO
@Chance: No homo. Read the Bible.
Ogre Magi
Chick-fil-A is based on Biblical principals, are they going to include a story where Mama Bear and Sister Bear maul 42 children for mocking a prophet 2 Kings 2:23-24
Chance
@HenryO: I’ve spent plenty of time reading the Bible. Was raised Southern Baptist, and was a good Christian boy for a very, very long time. But then as I grew up and there were things that didn’t make sense and I started trying to question it, I was told to just accept it, don’t question, that’s the way it is, that’s what GOD says, so be it, period, dot, the end. My father always taught me to look at things with a critical eye, to question, to try to understand, and when he (and every other religious person in my life) suddenly told me NOT to question what the Bible says, something seemed off. So I’m not a Christian anymore, and don’t go read the Bible every time I have a question, because it NEVER ANSWERS my questions and just always leaves me with more. It’s a good book, but I don’t see it as THE Good Book.
Tony
Isn’t Harper/Collins owned by News Crop now?
dee-dee
@Tony: Yes! Either that or Random House is.