A social media posting by a branch of Chick-fil-A in Louisiana, praising a team member, has gone viral.
Posted last Tuesday, the Thibodaux branch of the chicken restaurant praised team member Tavion, otherwise known as “Tutu”.
“Happy #TeamMemberTuesday!”, it said. “Say hello to Tavion! He has been with Chick-fil-A Thibodaux for over a year. His favorite position to work is on Drive-Thru bagger making sure your food is bagged fast and accurately! ❤️
“His favorite meal to get on break is a Grilled Sandwich with American cheese and ranch! He mentioned he enjoys coming to work and making new friends every day. During his free time he enjoys working out and sleeping. 🐮
“We are so appreciative of all your hard work and dedication, Tavion! We love you! ✨”
Why has it gone viral? Well, Chick-fil-A has long been criticized for its past donations to anti-LGBTQ Christian groups and politicians. This has resulted in the brand being boycotted, picketed and losing lucrative contracts. The chain still famously remains closed on Sundays.
It is unknown how Tavion identifies. Queerty has reached out to both Chick-fil-A’s head office and Tavion for further comment.
However, it seems that many online are judging Tavion on their appearance and Chick-fil-A for celebrating Tavion’s contribution and work ethic.
Some of the comments were not so nice, even going so far as suggesting that Chick-fil-A had gone “woke”.
“I thought this was a Christian company, what next opening on Sundays? 🧐” said one comment (many other negative comments seem to have been deleted).
“Stunning”
However, hundreds of others descended upon the post to praise Tavion.
“Tavion is literally so stunning?!” said one.
“It’s people like y’all that have our younger generation feeling unsafe, suicidal etc… It’s absolutely NOTHINGGGGG wrong with this young man but having to be stuck in a world that everyday he has to fight for his self respect. He is simply beautiful❤️…” said another.
Many regulars also praised Tavion.
“Da Baby! I’m a regular & he is always sooo joyful! Like I feel good about spending my money there when I see him. He will come speak even if he didn’t take my order. KEEP SHINING FRIEN. Chick-fil-A Thibodaux I’m so happy you all are acknowledging him because it’s Well Deserved!”
One person to comment on Facebook appeared to be Tavion’s mom.
“We really appreciate the kind words❤️ my son is the best‼️gotta love him🥰” she said.
“My son getting this much attention, I LOVE IT❤️..even the haters😜😜” she also added.
Chick-fil-A has now turned off comments.
Tavion, on their own social media, also posted about going viral.
Tavion sounds like an employee any organization would be proud to have. Go Tavion!
ShaverC
Why is this so surprising. I’m not religious at all, but this is what a good Christian is supposed to do, they might like his personal life but they appreciate what he brings to the workplace. Plus why did Queerty call him “their”, did they assume his pronouns?
abfab
Josh Hawley is trying to call you. He said you can suck his dick. Shaver……..you’re an asshole and you know it.
CatholicXXX
No. In this instance, “their” is used to refer to someone of unknown or unspecified sex. Someone else can probably fill in the rest. I don’t care to.
ShaverC
CatholicXXX, We know that his boss called him, “him”.
Bosch
“Why is this so surprising?”
People get fired in your country for being gay, because “religious freedom”.
But you knew that. You’re just being a contrarian.
abfab
CONTINUE TO BOYCOTT CHICK FIL-A (and shaver) . When she’s not at her local Olive Garden, I’m sure this is where she must go for ”fine dining”.
ShaverC
abfab, I’m good with Olive Garden, but please continue to eat at La Petite Connerie.
abfab
Go away GOP TROLL. Go work on Rhonda’s campaign. He would love your ideas and sensibilities.
dbmcvey
This is not what Christians do. And I don’t believe you’re not religious with the way you worship that anti-LGBT, traitor governor of Florida.
Openminded
1. Good post by his employer about an employee doing everything right. I hope the company will continue to reciprocate his good efforts. Employees that shine like him are getting hard to find.
2. Tavion’s mother referred to him using “him”, so I assume that is his preferred pronoun. I try to respect people’s choice of pronouns but have no respect for those who assign pronouns without reason.
3. Sad that the general population assumes he may be LGBTQ simply by looking at a picture. That is just as bad as someone assuming he must be a dangerous thug by seeing the color of his skin in the same picture.
4. Just as sad is the fact that in today’s society and workforce, hitting the 1 year anniversary of employment is this noteworthy. When I was this kid’s age, you had to be with the company 20+ years to get recognized.
5. Boycott Chick-Fil-A if you want to. If may make you feel better but it won’t make any difference. There are so many companies out there doing just as bad if not worse things to the LGBTQ community, the environment, immigrants, etc., that if we boycott them all, we won’t survive. By all means continue to speak out against their wrong doings, but I feel like boycotts only hurt the protestor.
Bottom line, great story about an apparently great kid.
abfab
We can and WE WILL SURVIVE by BOYCOTTING those companies. Stop making false statements.
abfab
And yes, you are presuming. You have no way of knowing if mommy is or isn’t using their preferred pronoun.
still_onthemark
Which is worse, Chik-Fil-A or Twitter? Twitter is 100% owned by a homophobic right-wing a-hole, but we haven’t seen Queerty worrying much about that since he bought it.
Is Chik-Fil-A really worse than Twitter, or is it just easier to boycott?
abfab
Ask ChatGPT.
inbama
@still_onthemark
Actually, Musk showed a surprising knowledge of gay history this weekend when he retweeted some fool actually trying to tell Fred Sergeant that Marsha P. Johnson organized the first Pride march.
How many homophobes would know who Fred Sergeant is? In fact, how many non-NYC and non-boomer gays?
LeBlevsez
inbama –
Surprising knowledge? You are too easily impressed. Anybody with a google machine and 10 spare minutes could find an unflattering anecdote regarding anyone or anything. Musk could have landed on Fred Sargeant by googling ‘transphobic bigot’.
Now, a more interesting question is: “How many homophobes does it take to screw in a light bulb?”
inbama
@LeBlevsez
Unlike you, Fred Sergeant is an actual gay hero who actually was at Stonewall and was one of the organizers of the first Pride march back when action actually required courage.
You’re just an anonymous fool calling names at your betters.
dbmcvey
Does one have to be better?
LeBlevsez
inbama –
You can idolize a bigot if you so choose. I will not. Whatever positive effect he may have had in the past is now eclipsed by his boisterous bigotry. It’s funny how readily these so-called LGB rights activists embrace groups like the LGB Alliance, a group that supports conversion therapy and has repeatedly said that they will willingly cede gay marriage rights if it keeps trans people from being able to marry. (Never mind that abandoning gay marriage rights wouldn’t prevent all trans people from marrying. A cis gay man could still marry a trans man under the LGB Alliance rules, since by their own definition a trans man “is a biological female.” So their spite leaves them noseless, while their trans neighbor enjoys all the flowers.)
And, by the by: that’s MISTER Anonymous Fool to you.
inbama
@LeBlevsez
The idea that trans people are in danger of losing marriage rights is laughable – unless of course Obergefell v. Hodges is overturned in which case, we’re all f++cked. Which is highly possible if we keep handing Republicans photo-ops involving children and lose the Senate.
abfab
”if we keep handing Republicans photo-ops involving children and lose the Senate.”? Would this be one of your favorite passtimes. Embalma, try giving less of yourself away, you might get arrrested.
abfab
”at your betters”? Who talks like that…oh right, GOP TROLLS
Fahd
Probably wrong to jump to ANY conclusions about Tavion based on so little information; however, probably could take that work ethic and get a better job with higher pay at a less aggressively anti-LGBTQ company, even another company in Thibadoux, Louisiana, — I’d recommend it.
I’ve made the choice not to spend my fast-food dollars, such as they are, at this company…
FreddieW
As a general practice, I don’t buy food at Chick-Fil-A either, but I wouldn’t recommend to anyone that he quits a job where he’s appreciated to satisfy people to whom he owes nothing.
In 2 or 3 specific instances, I have purchased food there when pressed for time and it was the only fast food nearby. Wendy’s has a better chicken sandwich, I think.
sfv1971
Click bait.
cuteguy
Why aren’t the conservatives choosing to boycott Chik Fil A like they did with Target or Bud Light? Oh wait, the GQP do what they do best…cherry picking
Terrycloth
Hobby Lobby in our town.has a store full of gays working there.i thought they too were homophobic ..with crafts and design who better to hire lol
dbmcvey
If the owners know they are gay they won’t be working there for long. They require their employees act in “Biblical Principals” whatever those are.
abfab
A common biblical principal is looking the other way while little Bobby Joe Garth gets blo w job s from the family priest….there are more but what’s a mother to do!
Ronbo
Good job Tavlon! I can’t imagine our resident haters (abfab, bosch, cuteguy etc…) working anything but their mouths to insult people.
Looks like Tavion might be melting hearts and changing minds over at that franchise. What are our hateful, militant gays doing to help… absolutely nothing. In fact, they seem to be stirring the pot seeking division and trouble.
We don’t change people’s hearts with hate, abfab. We change hearts thru love and acceptance. Learn from Tavion and give that hateful heart a rest. It fuels all things bad.
Bosch
“In fact, they seem to be stirring the pot seeking division and trouble.”
He says, as he stirs the pot.
Can you show me a hateful message I’ve written? Puns don’t count, those are funny.
dbmcvey
It’s great that they honor that one employee. Now they should stop donating to organizations that do things like pass anti-gay laws in Uganda.